Kevin Dente

February 7th, 2008 at 11:34 am

Oh, man, the overpackaging of produce is the one thing I hate about TJs. It’s utterly absurd - 4 apples in a specially designed plastic case? Give me a break. How can we get them to change that?

Christopher Stephens

February 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am

I bring a bag with me at all times, but sometimes, especially at TJ’s, I accept bag. I use the TJ’s paper bags to put my paper recycling in (just bundling with twine doesn’t always keep in the smaller pieces like envelopes). When I get a plastic shopping bag, I re-use it to line my garbage can, for which I have never needed to buy special liners. I also keep a flimsy plastic shopping bag with me in case I need to carry something damp (like a fold-up umbrella) or dirty. In other words, not all bags that stores hand out are inherently evil.

Mcark

February 11th, 2008 at 11:54 pm

You left off a gripe (well, it is for me at least). Everyone tries to make their plastic bag using selfs seem less offensive by using reusing their plastic bags as trash bags….So, it gets ONE extra use and it goes to the trash bin with all of your disgusting materials (especially bathroom stuff) only to biodegrade when you’re great great great grandkids are around? UGH!

brooke a. williams

February 12th, 2008 at 9:19 am

My new favorite thing are CHICO BAGS. They are reusable and have their own stuff sack attached. I gave them out for christmas. Love them!!!!

Clare Miller

February 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am

When I lived in Boulder Colorado it was quite common at every store you’d go to for the checkout person to ask - not paper or plastic - but do you want a bag? And people often would not take one when asked that way.
A local super market here ( part of a local chain) gives nickel creidit on your bill for every bag you don’t use if you bring your own.
In Europe you get charged for every bag you use if you don’t bring your own.
And it aggrevates me to have someone try to put a tiny little item into a regular sized bag when you can just carry it out.

Daisy

February 12th, 2008 at 10:24 am

Another gripe: all of the plastic bags in the produce section that people use to individually package their fruit and vegetables. It makes sense for smaller items like brussels sprouts or snow peas, but does a crown of broccoli really need to be packaged in its own plastic bag? It is especially frustrating with items that have their own protective skin, such as onions and oranges. What a waste!

victoria

February 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am

Yes! Why do individual items have to be in plastic? What is wrong with recycled cardboard trays for produce?
Why not wrap the meats in butcher paper ?

And what about the horrid tougher than titanium plastic that most hardware type items come in?
I had to resort to my tool box and dig out a carpet knife in order to open a pack of batteries. How ridiculous is this chronic over-packaging!!!!??!?!?
It’s pointless waste!
And if they can make packaging that strong, why don’t they use it to make autos with instead of metal?
Thanks for griping, but lets pass these legitimate concerns up the chain where those in power can be made aware of them please.

Elizabeth

February 12th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

I really dislike organic products packaged in several layers of plastic!!!! Come on now! I am buying organic because I believe natural is best!! PLASTIC is not natural!!!!

I also dislike that homepathic medicines are now stored in plastic!!! Any Homeopathic DR worth thier salt would be aghast at storing imprinted water in plastics! It is just sooooo wrong!

I dislike that organic yougurt is stored in plastic containers #5 weight and the only way to recycle them is to send them via the US mail back to the Stoneyfield Yougurt CO! Talk about a large carbon footprint on that one!!!

Elizabeth

Amy

February 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

I’ve been trying to avoid plastic bags for years now, but give me a break- sometimes when I leave the house, my plan is only to go to, say, a doctor’s appointment, and so I carry only a purse. When I get downtown I realize I’m near Trader Joe’s and need a few things- usually I I buy a reusable bag there but I don’t always feel like I can spare the money. It’s getting better with the availability of bags that fold up small, but seriously who leaves the house with multiple empty canvas bags all the time? This is only practical if you have a car.

Jessica Jensen

February 12th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

Hi Amy,

I hear you….have you seen Olive Smart Bags? It is a nifty set of reusable bags that come in a handy carry case that compressed the bags. No bigger than a purse-sized umbrella!

Check ‘em out– I love them:
http://www.lowimpactliving.com/products/Housewares/Shopping-Bags/439

Amy

February 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Jessica- thanks for the tip.
Also I totally agree with the European idea of charging for bags: it attaches a real if small cost at the store which serves as a reminder that the bags are never truly free. It makes me crazy to buy something that fits in my purse and see the cashier automatically try to put it in a bag!

Pam

February 12th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

I asked both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods about their use of plastic packaging in food and cleaning products. I heard back from TJs that the majority of their packaging used for fruits and vegetables is made with PLA plastic which is a biodegradable vegetable based plastic. Would be nice if they told their customers though.

Never heard back from Whole Foods.

emily

February 13th, 2008 at 10:03 am

It seriously irks me when I catch the cashier putting something in a plastic bag despite the fact that I bring my own reusable bags, and when I remind them not to, they wad it up and throw it out instead of using it for the next customer.

anotheca

February 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Europe has all sorts of great ideas. Germany started charging more (a lot more) per pound for trash pick up at homes and businesses, and customers started unwrapping items as soon as they got through the check out, and throwing out the packaging at the store. Needless to say, when stores realized what was happening, they put pressure on manufacturers to reduce packaging. Kind of elegant, really.

alison

February 14th, 2008 at 3:54 am

When I was little, all the fruit were piled in bins and we were allowed to touch them and put what we wanted to buy in a sack. Why can’t we buy and individual apple anymore. AND, if we are on the subject, why is ALL salad in a plastic gassy bag these days. I want a head of lettuce, not a bag of pre-washed, pre-selected, pre-weighed, pre-processed lettuce that is really just a slimy time bomb waiting to start deteriorating the moment I bring it home and stick it in the fridge. A HEAD of lettuce, please

zobo

February 14th, 2008 at 9:00 am

So what are we supposed to put our garbage in if not the plastic grocery bags?

You cant just put a garbage can of loose refuse on the curb, they won’t take it.

Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living

February 14th, 2008 at 9:39 am

Zobo:

There are other options out there. At a bare minimum, you use less plastic when you put alot of waste in a larger bag then if you put small amounts in many smaller bags. So, lining one large can with one bag and dumping everything in there is slightly better.

You can also use biodegradable bags made from corn - they aren’t made from petroleum, and they can break down in the right conditions. Check out these bags as an example.

Last, many cities do allow you to dump non-bagged waste in the cans, so everyone should check in your area to make sure.

Patti C

February 14th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

As a Cashier and bagger, I wonder if the cashier was only trying to keep fresh meat or produce from leaking into your reusable bag and running on to other items by first wrapping it in plastic.

Yam

February 14th, 2008 at 5:53 pm

While I agree that all people should be bringing their own bags to the store and applaud everyone for their efforts to help save what’s left of the world, a lot of us still don’t know the one thing that would greatly impact the environment and all of its inhabitants. I’m going to mention something that, without a doubt, will make many of you upset because I’m forcing you to question something that we grew up with and has been ingrained in our consciousness… and that is eating meat.

So, please… I hope none of you take this as a personal attack. My point is to try to help you see that eliminating plastic bags alone is not the only solution. And neither will ending meat consumption… but many experts agree that adopting a plant-based diet is the MOST helpful way to save the planet.

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” — Albert Einstein
[That–among other things]
For more info:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/getinvolved/green-guide/green-lifestyle/go-vegetarian

Books to read:
The Food Revolution by John Robbins

Stephany

February 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

I shop a lot at WM mainly because of the low prices. With two growing boys, I need to get the most for my money. They have created their own version of the canvas bag which I bought 4 of along with my 2 from Publix. My gripe is, why do the cahiers refuse to bag your purchase when tell them “please, no plastic”. It’s like the customer service goes right out the window and it ends up being such an inconvinient chore for them.

Krista

February 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

what really irks me is when i bring my shopping bags, a quantity that is definitely enough for all of my groceries… and then they put so few items in my bags and try to put the rest in plastic! i’d rather bag my own than have this happen!

Abbie

February 17th, 2008 at 8:03 am

Elizabeth, in regards to your comment about Stonyfield yogurt containers, at least Stonyfield is making an effort to get their containers recycled, because in many communities #5 are not accepted. I agree that it is a huge footprint, shipping them back to NH, but they do recycle them and they actually get made into new products, with their partnership with a company called Recycline, that makes them into toothbrushes and razors. (These in turn can be turned into plastic lumber when their lifespan is over! 3 Uses!)

I highly recommend Gary Hirshberg’s book Stirring It Up (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781401303440&itm=1) as a great read!

stephanie

February 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

I always use my canvas bags for grocery shopping, but I also get the plastic blue bags for necessary for recycling metal and plastic in my community. Does anyone know if I am doing more harm than good by using the blue bags for recycling? I assume that these bags are recycled as part of the process…

lisa

February 25th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

I understand that the grocery stores that have “recycle bins” for your used plastic bags are throwing them away - they just want us to buy more & not worry about the bags. A guy at my recycling center told me they’re not recyclable!

Lindsay

February 26th, 2008 at 9:39 am

I have used the canvas bags at Trader Joe’s and Henry’s (a Wild Oats chain) for several years. Recently I bought a bunch of reusable bags from Baggu http://baggubag.com/index.html and I *love* them. They fold up small and have their own little bag so they can be kept in your purse or briefcase or even your pocket. Additionally, they do not have any big labels on them, so if you feel weird about taking one store’s bags into another this resolves that issue. I have had nothing but positive feedback whenever I’ve used these bags at stores that may not be acustomed to customers bringing their own. Several people have asked me when they can get them and I’ve struck up multiple conversations with the cashier/baggers about the bags.
My main gripe with stores in general is this: I use the reusable bags not only because they are envionmentally friendly, but also because they hold so much more than paper or plastic. Baggers seem to be afraid of loading up the bags to capacity; I often have to tell them several times to keep adding item to the bag(s). I understand the concern, but asking would be the easiest solution. I am perfectly capable of carrying a heavy bag, And I much rather carry a couple heavy ones than a whole bunch of bags with just a few things. End gripe.

Kacy

February 26th, 2008 at 11:05 am

WM needs to better educate their workers on how to use the canvas bags. They sell the bags but the employees look at you strange, I even had this one who said “what am I supposed to do with this?” I would bag my groceries myself at WM but with these new turn tables they have with the plastic bags in it that makes it hard. I also have to stop them from using the plastic bags for certain things, and I tell them just to put everything in there, they can handle it. I also try to have like foods together when I check out, so that way all produce goes together, dairy, etc…

Marie

February 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Good news: Last night, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted to follow staff’s recommendations to draft an ordinance banning plastic bags at all retail outlets (point of sale). This is a step in the right direction!

Besides using the reusable bags offered by stores, I use ones from onebagatatime, a company owned by a Westwood resident. I also keep a small Chico bag in my purse. You can buy them at the Santa Monica Co-op Market. An idea to share: our local girl scouts (Pacific Palisades) just distributed 1800 reusable bags during their “No Plastic Bag Weekend”. They got donations from the markets to supplement the ones they purchased. Maybe someone can try this in your neighborhood.

I agree that not enough people use reusable bags, but more and more people are…I always comment and say “I like your bag!”

My peeve: the farmer’s market–the vendors use sooooooooo many plastic bags. Really, we don’t need a bag for fruit and vegies!

Corinne

February 27th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

I get the Green Lizard On My Head look every time I bring my bags into Rainbow (or Roundy’s if your not from around here). And they’re RAINBOW’S resuable bags!!!! I used to get the insane look when I asked for all paper bags too. Seriously people, just give me the paper bags!! Well I guess that’s what I get for trying to do something good. And their funny looks aren’t going to sway my decision to use my own bags. Heck, maybe I LIKE looking like there’s a green lizard on my head; my mom did always say I was a bit different.

mcark

February 28th, 2008 at 3:53 am

Kacy: I know where you are coming from with WM. I always bag my own stuff but it would be difficult if I had a months worth of grocery items in the cart. I have found that if they lay the items on the table and I bag them is the best option for quick and painless bagging.

Beth

March 5th, 2008 at 7:55 am

When I buy produce, I put a hand held basket in my cart and put all the loose produce in there, I only bag little items like peas and green beans. At first the people at the check-out would tease me and say “Oh you had to upgrade from a carrier to a cart” Or “You got more than you can carry” Once I explained that I didn’t want to put my produce in a plastic bag just to carry them home and remove the plastic bag, they began saying they liked the idea and they appreciated my efforts to reduce. I think each little bit helps, and of course I carry my own re-usable bags.

Vicki

March 5th, 2008 at 10:30 am

O.k. Let me first say I am a checker. I hate reusable canvas bags! I applaude you all by trying to SAVE THE WORLD one bag at a time but have you all thought about the fact that while trying to save earth you could be potentially hurting people. Besides the fact that the canvas bags are akward to work with. Do you not realize what food borne illness ly on that conveyor belt (sorry that basket is not much cleaner) . By reusing canvas bags you enable food borne illness to spread. What happens when your chicken leaked on your canvas bag 2days ago and now I touch your bag? Also why is it ok to hand me canvas bags that have been in your car and obviously you are a dog owner cause it’s covered in dog hair. That’s disgusting. There are many stores that offer recycling of your plastic bags. Take advantage of that. In todays society where it is getting harder and harder to get rid of the common cold and flu why must I now touch your reusable bag. How do I know where it’s been.

Jessica Jensen

March 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

Vicki thank you so much for your post– it was very enlightening! I have a new appreciation for the checker outlook on the reusable bag issue.

A couple of thoughts– and I’d love to hear your reactions.

1) what if we put the meats in plastic bags and put those in our canvas/other reusuable bags?
2) I bag my own groceries so that the checker doesn’t have to deal with my ‘”funny bags” — and it gets me out of the store faster!
3) people should definitely wash their bags. Handing you a gross, dog-hair covered bag is just unacceptable.

Donna

March 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

I compost so I keep a box of biobags in with my canvas bags. When I go to the store I use the biobags to bag loose produce. Then I use the same bio bags to line my compost bucket, and when its full just tie the bag shut and toss it into the compost pile. Works great for me.
However, most compostable bags wont break down very well in landfill, so I’m still searching for a trash solution. Other than reducing the amount I throw away by trying not to bring home stuff that’s just going to go right into a trash can .. ie insane amounts of packaging!
I agree people should definitely wash their bags, how hard is that? At the same time, my lord, the chicken that’s already on a plastic tray, with an absorbent pad, wrapped in plastic shrink wrap, then needs to be wrapped in yet another plastic bag to prevent it from leaking onto the other food? Hmmm, maybe all this plastic isn’t actually getting the job done.
Sure,you don’t know where my canvas bag has been, then again, I don’t know where your plastic has been. Some chinese factory that sprays weird pesticides on everything? And yet somehow we all manage to navigate the world together.
Actually I usually just bag my own too. That way I don’t have to make the bagger unhappy with my weirdness and I can be sure my eggs arent under a can of tomatoes. Still get the lizard on the head looks but hey.

Saggy Baggy Elephant

March 8th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

* I hate the “lizard-head look” - like nowadays has ANYONE seriously not even HEARD of using your own bags, especially someone who works in a grocery store? Isn’t there any training?
* Watch Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price - there are many reasons not to shop at Wal-Mart, aside from bagging concerns. (I don’t know that shopping at Target is a whole lot better, but we have to start somewhere, and Wal-Mart is infamous for many reasons…)
* I have wondered myself many times about whether or not they ACTUALLY recycle the plastic bags - I used to work at a dry cleaners that invited their customers to bring back their hangers so they could be reused or recycled - this was mid-90s - guess where they ended up? The dumpster, that’s right! That made me SO mad…I tried when I could to sneak the used ones in with the new ones!
*I used to be a checker in a grocery store too, and let’s just admit that at the end of a shift your hands are going to need a good washing, regardless of whether or not you’ve touched a bag with dog hair on it. (!!) I mean, it’s not really a glamorous thing, but surely you’ve petted a dog before. Everybody needs to wash their hands before they eat, that sort of thing, and I was never wild about handling leaking packages of chicken (although the packaging is much more secure nowadays) - but if we’re concerned about our ability to cure diseases, we need to think about making our immune systems stronger, not trying to avoid every germ.
*I am in the habit lately of going thrift shopping and looking in the purses and the luggage areas - you would be surprised the number of nice bags you can find (canvas or nylon, or whatever!) - I’ve assembled sets of 5 or 6 for myself, and several friends and family members - I think so many companies give these away as rewards and as promotional items, and people just decide they don’t want them - they’ll have company names and whatever on them, but who cares? So that’s my tip to people if you want to find nice, heavy-weight bags on the cheap - also, wanted to get some idea of what people would be willing to pay for a set of 5-6 (or how many?) bags like that, if I were to maybe sell them on e-bay or something? Also, the beauty of thrift shopping in general is that you can buy anything without effecting the supply/demand of the marketplace, so you can do it without the guilt! (If you want to buy cheap plastic crap, or products from Wal-Mart, ha ha) And, the money you spend usually goes to a worthy cause! (Although I suppose if everyone started doing that, it wouldn’t be my enjoyable little secret, but I guess I’ll take that risk if it helps the earth!)

mariah

March 10th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

To help stop the grocery stores from separating your meat etc into plastic bags, bring your own recycled grocery for them to put the fish, meat etc in. You can use them over and over, and then the bagger doesn’t feel bad about possibly some liqued leaking on other items. I like the Dodo bags, as they are made from cloth, made in the U.S. and they give some of their sales to environmental groups. www.dodobags.com

martha

March 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am

I carry reusable bags in my car at all times, but sometimes I forget to bring them in to the store. I refuse bags if I can carry items to the car without a bag or if I can get them in to my purse, but often the cashier will put them in a plastic bag before I get a chance to ask them not to.

At this point I usually look them in the eye and ask “will you re-use this bag if I leave it, because I don’t need it.” I’ve found that this reduce the odds of them balling it up and tossing it out.

Also, I’ve gotten in to the habit of doing this at all stores - not just grocers. I really don’t need a bag for a single pair of pants or for a collection of small items.

The cashier always look at me like I’m crazy and ask me 10 times if I’m sure I don’t want a bag, but ce la vie.

Holly

March 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

One grocery chain in my area individually WRAPS each piece of fruit (apples, oranges, etc.) with a bright piece of yellow tape labeling it “organic”, More waste….

Amy R

March 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

I have been using my own bags for several years now. I am glad to see a lot more stores offer them. Several - Target & ShopRite — have bags that fold up as small as an eyeglass case or wallet. I keep these in my purse for those impulse buys. I have a bucket of bags in my car and at this point anywhere I shop they smile and say “No bags for her — she brings her own”. Don’t think they’d give me a bag even if I forgot mine!

Most of the grocery stores give you a few cents credit if you bring your own. It adds up.

Michelle

March 17th, 2008 at 11:49 am

I too have a lizard on my head! My favorite is when a bagger packs my canvas bags as if they were delicate plastic ones, by putting only a couple items in them. I always tell them to fill them up all the way, I can handle it. In fact most grocery trips I can get all my groceries into the house in one trip. I also got drawstring produce bags that are great, that way the checker can just weigh the whole bag of onions or whatever all at once. I have been using my own bags for about 10 years now, I started doing it in college. And I always have a compact shopping bag in my purse from the container store, it has come in handy so much, If I need to take some work home with me I can just throw them in the bag.

Alex

March 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

I have drawstring produce bags and big canvas bags and I use them for everything — groceries, hauling picnic food. At Christmas time, they carried all my gifts for people. I love them!!!

What I can’t stand is how the rest of my family looks at me like I’m some kind of hippie-nutcase when we go to stores and I insist on using them. I feel like they tolerate my weird behaviors — recycling, drinking tap water instead of bottled water and toting my reuseable aluminum water bottle every where I go — and I don’t understand why it’s so weird to be mindful.

Didn’t most adults grow up in the 50s when their parents reused things like Ziploc bags or aluminum foil? Why is it so hard for people to accept change and not always take the easiest route?

Madelyn

March 18th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

What should I line my kitchen trash can with? I’ve been using plastic grocery bags, but now I don’t accept any plastic, so I’m running out!

Madelyn

March 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

P.S. What is the opinion of plastic TJ bags? Shouldn’t we all be using cloth ones? Are we concerned that they all seem to be made in China?

Anu

March 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Bloggers, please sign my petition and pass it along. I need as many signatures as I can get to convince my city mayor to ban plastic bags. I have given up on trying to convince the stores themselves (Target and our local grocery stores) to discourage use of plastic bags. Our grocery store (Cub Foods owned by SuperValu) took a step backwards and are providing “stronger” plastic bags that can hold more items. Please sign this petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/ban-plastic-bags-in-minneapolis

Donna

March 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am

Have you seen the plastic bag manufacturers are now opposing the bans? Urgh!! I mean its one thing to offer a product in the markeplace. If people want to buy it, fair enough even if I think its a bad idea. But if a municipality votes to ban something, don’t try to force them to buy it from you anyway! Um… Opium wars anyone? I’ve been having a lot of luck lately with people who comment on my canvas bags by talking about how the bags hold a lot more, and are strong so they don’t rip and drop my groceries on the ground etc,…oh and of course they’re good for the planet too. People have seemed much more open to this approach. Almost relieved. I think they were afraid I was going to call them an evil polluter and lecture them for an hour about sea turtles.

Angie

March 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Getting anyone else in my to accept my reusing bags at the store has been an uphill battle from the start. My ears still ring with my niece’s shrill, “NOOOO, not the straw bag auntie, not now! SOMEONE might SEE ME!!!” Bless her fashionable heart. So I gave her a mission. Told her if she could find something reusable, big enough for groceries, and made from recycled materials, and even cute enough for her, I would get it. The first couple of tries would of left me in debt. Then, she did good. She found a great site that has all sorts of bags, even CUTE, OMG that auntie would use. Ahhh, the days of being thirteen again. Anyhow, just wanted to share, if your a fellow fashion diva about your bags, check out ecobags.com. Lots of good stuff there.

Alison

March 26th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

I always take my own bags to the store, but I end up getting plastic bags for my fresh fruits and vegies . You can’t put them in bags that aren’t clear because the cashier wouldn’t be able to read the label when checking out. But I feel guilty and try to reuse them as much as possible. But I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about something clear and reusable I can use for my fresh food?

Jody Williams

March 28th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

I feel your pain. I’m beginning to get discouraged about getting others to use plastic bags. What I hear most of the time is “I always forget my bags in the car.” I have to admit, it took about 4 months to develop the habit of bringing my bags with me in every store, but now it’s a easy. I’m starting to think that the only way people will change is if they get taxed on plastic bags or if they get banned. People seem really into it but I never see anyone bringing their own bag. I shop at Super One Foods in Lafayette, LA where you bag your own groceries, so that makes it really nice. I’ve asked them a few times to please advertise their bags so that more customers will actually know that the bags are re-useable grocery bags & not just totes. I hit a lot of walls & need advice on how to get things moving along here. Any ideas would be great. I give a lot of them away as gifts, will be speaking to moms @ my church about them for our green meeting, talked to the news paper, email a few organizations about using the bags as fundraising items……

Jody Williams

March 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

oops! correction on that first sentence….. getting others to use cloth bags!

marnacious bee

April 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pm

I often shop for produce at our local farmer’s market and even THEY try to give you plastic bags when you’re carrying a cloth one. I too don’t get Trader Joe’s produce packaging. If you’re marketing yourself as a quasi-healthfood natural store, what’s with all the booze and plastic produce wrap?

Madelyn

April 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 am

I think I’m going to buy several of those mesh washing bags for delicates and use them for fruits and veggies. The cashier can still see through to see what I’m buying and no more of those little plastic bags. Join me!

Donna

April 4th, 2008 at 10:44 am

Great idea Madelyn.

Julie

April 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Oi. I hear ya. I about had a heart attack the time I was at Target and bought one bag of potato chips. The cashier put it in a plastic bag. I handed it back to her, saying, “Oh, that’s okay, I can carry it,” and then watched her toss it in the trash. Whaaaaa????? It had a bag of chips in it for two seconds!!!! How contaminated could it have possibly been?

I must be the only person who uses cloth bags in my town. Last time I was at Walmart, the cashier said, “You are the only person who ever brings the bags back!” like I deserved a medal or something.

Shannon

April 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 am

Something I have found helpful, if I’m only grabbing a few things, is to take all my bags with me, and fill the ones I need, then just put the whole bag up there, and while they are pulling out my groceries, (unless the store is really busy) I put my bags on their spinners (if they are accessible). If I can’t put my bags over top/in front of their bags, I’m ready to take each item once it’s been rung up. With 2 kids this isn’t always possible of course, so my 9 year old “police’s” and will try and grab whatever the cashier puts into their bags. And if we miss anything, we put it in our bags and drop the stores plastic bags into the recycle box provided at the front of the store. I live in Georgia, and in almost every grocery store I have been in, they have one at the exits, or a central position. One thing that drives my crazy is littering…with plastic store bags, bread bags, ziploc bags. At a large pond at a park near our home, and the lake we live near, we are always finding the aboce mentioned plastics in the pond where fish, ducks, geese and turtles live. We even found a toddlers sandal floating in there the other day! It disgusts me that people have NO CLUE, or don’t care what there trash does to the environment and the impact it has on the wildlife! I always try to have trashbags in my car, and my kids (3 and 9) and I pick up all the trash we see/can get our hands on. We seperate all paper products in our home and that we pick up, and we burn them in my brother-in-laws woodstove at his workshop, to help get the fires started. We bag em and he even stores them in the summer to use in the winter. This includes pizza boxes, all cardboard from like Go-gurts, fruit snacks, cereal boxes, paperplates, etc. If it’s a “proccessed” (shiny) box, that is seperated from the rest of our trash, and gets put in the bin designated for it at the dump near our house. They have seperate bins for glass, aluminum, cardboard, and regular trash (including a seperate one for electronics and large household items). The only one they don’t have is for plastics.