I Just Started Using Them For Reals

I've had canvas bags hanging around for longer than I've lived in San Francisco - almost a year. I even kept a couple in my Corolla before I got rid of it, but every time I'd go to Trader Joe's I'd get up to the check stand and feel like slapping myself in the face - of course I'd left my totes back in the trunk of my car for yet another shopping trip.

When I started walking to the grocery store, I put the bags in a really visible place in my kitchen. I'd forget at first, but eventually was able to make it into a habit since I couldn't avoid looking at the bags every time I went for ice cream or a pickle or whatever.

Anybody have good mnemonics for those who still can't seem to remember the damn things? Maybe put a dollar in a jar each time you forget? Wear a rubber band around your wrist on days you're going shopping?

-Toshio...off to put a dollar in the swear jar...
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Ddawn and others who reuse bags, Be careful with bread bags and others with printed labels-- the inks can contain lead, which may contaminate your food (especially if bags are reused inside out). According to researchers, lead may leach and/or flake into food. Details from the American Journal of Public Health are at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1405137
Someone mentioned that the canvas bags look awful. I like my canvas bags because I can decorate them with any message I want to. You can decorate them with acrylic paint or any left over paint you have on hand. I think I will start putting on mine "I am not a plastic bag". I like that saying alot. Zig
I just got some canvas grocery bags from www.green-kits.com. They have these clever but simple sayings on them that make them a little more fun than plain bags. But what really impressed me is that the company shipped the bags using all recycled/recyclable materials, included a note telling me where my nearest recycling facility is (!!!) AND they are totally carbon-neutral - they offset CO2 from the shipping with Terrapass. I really like that they consider the bigger picture. The bags are great quality (the pricing's good too).
Just a note for the budget conscious greenfeet.com has a few reusable bag choices under $10.00
I think there should be a separate discussion on trash/garbage. I had used canvas bags for years- it was so much more convienent to haul my groceries up my 3 flights of stairs than plastic/brown bags. Now i live in a condo and we are required to bag our trash before placing in the big bin, my husband uses the bags from the stores for garbage. This discussion on taking your own bag is a repeat from several months ago..Sep 07, 2006 - BYOB... Nothing new in this string of comments. Too bad.
This discussion may be old and a repeat of one several months ago. This discussion may change people's mind about using plastic bags and get the to write about their experiences. This discussion is the first one I was written on on this board and I like it. Zig
on this same thread. Instead of giving gifts in wrapping paper use cloth gift bags instead. I make them from remnant from the fabric store or from the legs of jeans. I cut the legs off the jeans and fold them in half, use the seam ripper to tear out the seam (extra fabric and less waste) Then I sew a new seam in the jean and decorate them anyway I want to. I fold the top edges and sew them so I can turn them into drawstring bags. My in-laws don't like them so I get them back, but a lot of people do. I tell them the present is not what is inside but the bag itself. And that I hope they will reuse the gift bag for another gift to give or keep it for themselves to use for another purpose. zig
I just heard from Jewel-Osco(a part of Albertsons) that they will be offering cloth bags in about 7-8weeks. Since there are no Albertson stores in this area(Midwest, Indiana & Illinois)with Jewel offering the bags, we now have a local supply for cheap cloth bags.I already had two bags & plan to buy 2-3 more. It pays to ask!! Also about this being a repeat, some of us are new to Ideal Bite, so it was good to have it repeated. Also Zig-LOVE the recycling of cloth gift bags from old jeans & remnents!! A good idea for us Biters that sew!Love the way that ideas are shared in this blog!
I'm new to this blog and love it. I love the idea's that may be old to some but new to others. Thanks for the compliment on the gift bags. You can also decorate the cloth bags you use for grocery shopping. Zig
I wanted to put in a plug for ChicoBag. I'm brand-new to using reusable shopping bags and what sold me was the design of the ChicoBag. They're made of woven nylon, hold 20 pounds and come in their own little integrated stuff sack so they're easy to carry around. I bought two at a local natural foods shop but was ashamed because I still ended up using plastic since two wasn't enough. I went to chicobag.com and got 5 more for $20 (it was a buy 4 get 1 free deal). They come in bright, fun colors so even if I do get funny looks, I pretend it's because folks are envious of my cool totes. I just unstuff one and put the others inside of it to carry them into the store. I unstuff as needed depending on the amount I'm buying. I highly recommend them! I'm finally cured of my plastic bag habit.

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