Question:
reduce waste by not taking a bag?
diane e
2007-05-14 18:57:34 UTC
For the rest of this week, I would like everyone to be consciously aware everytime they go shopping to try to reduce plastic bag usage. For small items, put them in your purse or pocket. Shopping at more than one store, put the items in one bag only. For the real enthusiastics, bring your own bag. Everyone respond with how many bags you saved from waste this week. It all adds up.
25 answers:
Emmeline B
2007-05-14 20:29:44 UTC
This is a great idea! Too bad we can't tell the world. Luckily I heard that Ikea is now using canvas bags too. All stores should switch.



And even if you can't use other bags it is always good to keep the bags for other things or even stuff them in your purse or pocket they are so small.



Again AWESOME idea!
Trevor
2007-05-14 19:37:39 UTC
You should be able to get a 'bag for life' - very tough plastic bags than can be reused for years before needing replacing.



Stores here in the UK sell them, they're only about $0.20 each and if they do wear out the store will replace them for free. One of these bags shoudl save hundreds of the ordinary plastic bags.



Another scheme in the UK is to give customers points on their loyalty cards if they bring their own bags to the store. This seems to have gone down well as everyone benefits - less bags given out by the store, money saved, less waste, more bonuses for the customer.



As for how many bags I've saved this week - haven't done the weekly shop yet so maybe about 5 or 6 so far, by the end of the week perhaps 15 or 20.
Marked By Feathers
2007-05-14 19:21:44 UTC
Simply by not taking a bag or bringing your own bag can save a lot of energy. Think about it, the gathering of the plastic materials, the making of it, the transporting of it, etc. Plastic bags are not free as we are led to believe. By reducing the amount of bags we use we help prevent global warming. Plastic bags are generally used just to get your stuff from the store to the car to the house. Is it needed that badly? Carts are used in most stores anyway and can do the same job.



There is a joke about the weird things that happen in American society:

We purchase a waste basket and carry it home in a plastic bag. At home we take the waste basket out of the plastic bag and put the plastic bag in the waste basket.
usafbrat64
2007-05-15 06:53:15 UTC
Bags saved from waste: Loads! Did my big grocery shopping today... used nothing but cloth!

Some of the previous writers are right... the UK and Germany are so ahead on this! I've got 15 cloth bags that I bought at Aldis 10 years ago that I use constantly. And I do have two Tesco's Bags for Life There are times when I forget to grab them, but never on big shopping trips. The few plastic bags we get, we use for cleaning out the cat litter and the trash.

There is even a town here in the UK, sorry I can't remember the name or the county, that is going plastic bag free!

Personally, I love it!
G-Man
2007-05-14 21:14:57 UTC
Ok I will but, what if I forget to take the item out of my pocket and set off the alarm.



Besides I use the small plastic bags as trash bags. Does this mean I have to buy bigger trash bags like Heftey?
Kathleen M
2007-05-15 08:12:02 UTC
Ikea in the US has now switched to charging for plastic bags, so bring your own! Even if you reuse your plastic bags as small trashbags, doggie bags, etc., I doubt you ever run out. When you can, be sure to use bring a canvas tote with you, even if you can only fit half of your groceries in it. Also, if you can help it, don't put your produce in the little plastic baggies at the grocery store. Most of the time its unnecessary!
Elizabeth T
2007-05-14 21:33:14 UTC
The concern is with plastic bags, correct? I agree with the idea of bringing your own bag, but people can also ask at the grocery store for paper bags instead of plastic. Most grocery stores I have been in have paper bags, they just dont use them unless the customer asks for them because they cost more. Paper degrades a lot faster than plastic, so if you wont bring your own bags, request paper.
dazee052
2007-05-15 14:06:12 UTC
I wrote a letter to Wegman's Markets in Rochester New York about their waste. I bought 8 items and left with 4 plastic bags!! My letter was featured in their weekly advertisement as an article introducing their new reusable bags.



I hate plastic bags, they are dangerous to my pets and small kids, they are wasteful and they are horrible for the enviornment.



I can fit my regular weekly groceries in 2 of the reusable bags compared to the 10-12 plastic.

AMAZING!!!
2007-05-14 20:07:22 UTC
We reuse bags... We also shop at Save a Lot and there you have to box your own groceries or bring your own bag and we usually box our own groceries there!! We also sometimes don't put 2 liters of pop in bags (you can only fit 1 in a bag) so thats saves about 10 bags right there lol!! I guess it all does add up!!
kriend
2007-05-14 19:28:09 UTC
The grocery store I shop at uses 99% paper bags to save money. I recycle all those bags through my business, either for merchandise or if the bag got wet or torn, for bird cages.

We not only recycle my bags but a few of my neighbors also.

I thoroughly detest plastic bags from any store and generally avoid taking them at all. If I get any anyway, all the white ones go to Wal-Mart for their recycling program.
Spyder
2007-05-15 01:51:50 UTC
I still used the same amount of bags as I always do. But I re-use those bags to take canned goods, clothing, small toys to the local domestic violence shelter and homeless shelters. The people there then re-use them again to give to victims so that they can carry what little belongings around with them. Normally, when the victims get to the shelter, they don't have a suitcase with them. So I don't view these bags as waste.
2007-05-14 19:48:19 UTC
I have to tell the supermarket not to use so many plastic bags. It's like they are trained to put 3 items or less in each bag.
Swen R
2007-05-14 19:13:12 UTC
Excellent idea, I personally don't use a bag unless it's at the grocery store. Most of the shopping we do is at the corner store, for a few items at a time.
sbt_seabuckthorn_international
2007-05-15 11:46:30 UTC
That's a really good idea. Myself, I don't particularly try to reduce the number of plastic bags I receive, because I have multiple uses for plastic bags at home that other people buy new bags to accomplish. For instance, I use only grocery bags for garbage, picking up after my dog, etc. In fact, I have such a demand for plastic bags that I canvass my neighbours for THEIR plastic grocery bags.



The rule in my home is to try to use things that were meant to be disposed of after one use at least twice (that includes things like plastic bags and disposable coffee cups, which I also use to pick up doggy doo), but of course not things like Q-tips and toilet paper. ;-))
Maw-Maw
2007-05-15 08:46:41 UTC
I need to ask this question.I bag my own groceries at the supermarket now and use paper only.I need some info on what will dept.stores do when we take those material bags and pack them around the store?I would hate for them to think I may be stealing.Should we just throw the bag in the bottom of the cart and pile things on top of it?just wondering for now.Maybe go all mesh?
2007-05-14 19:07:03 UTC
It all adds up. Some grocery stores are in tune with cost and environmentally conscious shoppers, such as ther German grocer Aldi. The cart costs you 25c, the bags cost you money too. Bring your own bags, and park your shopping cart on your own and you get your quarter back too.

Little things add up when you multiply that by hundreds of thousands of shoppers.
Drea Z
2007-05-15 12:06:36 UTC
i'm actually going out this weekend to purchase canvas bags for my grocery and other shopping. I shop at Aldi's and they charge for bags, so I bought like 7 of them and have been using them over and over again for the last year or two and now they are starting to get worn out and break. I think this is the time to switch to canvas bags, besides canvas bags are so much easier to carry and you don't risk them breaking. i have even been known to take my Aldi's bags to walmart so that i don't have a ton of walmart bags around my house.
Stacey I
2007-05-14 19:16:47 UTC
But what if you reuse the bags? I reuse them for trash..so I use fewer trash bags overall.
irish1
2007-05-14 20:17:47 UTC
I use a backpack and my own canvas bags.
Sara B
2007-05-15 15:09:00 UTC
I already do this, I saved 2 yesterday.
Isti H
2007-05-14 19:31:24 UTC
That is a good idea but you have to have a replacment bag if that one gets worn plus it would look kind of weird but do wat you gotta do.
2007-05-14 19:04:24 UTC
I'm just here for the light bulb.
Nano
2007-05-14 20:23:27 UTC
sorry but i wont put ketchup in my wallet
casey_leftwich
2007-05-15 11:05:11 UTC
You're right...every little bit helps. Thanks for the tip.
shorty
2007-05-15 09:19:06 UTC
Everyone remember these words"Paper Please!"


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