I'm Not a Plastic Bag (but I'm Not Remembering My Reusable One, Either)

I agree with all of the above except the Kangeroo Flap. In Europe most grocery stores make you bag your own groceries. Therefore if you do not have a bag with you the cost is two to three cents per bag. Larger once are a minimum of five to ten cents. It becomes costly and guess what - next time you do not forget. I have bags under my passenger seat and or in the back of my SUV. I also have a container where bottles fit to prevent spilling. We just have to start thinking GREEN .. Why is it so difficult in the USA. Our ancestors, most of which came from overseas knew how not to waste! How is it possible to create in a few generations such a wasteful society. Let's try to be smarter and be an example to other countries as well.

Andy Holena of CA 5:43PM February 12, 2009

Bagnesia (a person's forgetfulness to grab their reusable bags) is your symptom, your cure is the Bagnesia Reminder Kit. I just purchased one at www.bagnesia.com & I always remember my reusable bags now.

Bagnesia reminder kit contains simple, effective products that work together so you never forget to take your reusable bags into the store again. Plus, it come with this big, stylish, washable compact bag that fits in my purse so I always have it with me.

Casey of MD 3:06PM January 26, 2009

I use reusable bags all the time. I keep them on my door handle, in my car and I shove them in my bag. My husband, he forgets often, he's more of an 'impulse shopper' than I am.

I think it's important for consumers to make conscious decisions about their reusable bags; What's the country of origin? What material is this made up of? Is it an eco-friendly material? Does this bag fit my needs? Is it too small to hold a cereal box? Will my husband use it if it looks too girly? I found a great set of reusable bag that I love by Hero Bags, www.herobags.com made in the US (go US economy) out of recycled materials and they actually FIT groceries for my entire family.

CalMom of CA 2:39PM October 02, 2008

To put all the other packaging materials--including more plastic--that everything comes in to put the whole mess out for the trash collection each week. Public Works takes it all to the local landfill. There it sits for future archaelogists to dig up and ponder what our civilization was up to.

They also make handy "garbage bowls" (like Rachael Ray uses for waste packaging & parts of the recipe ingredients she doesn't use) except that I don't have to wash the bowl like she does after she dumps the contents into a plastic bag for the garbage collection.

I wouldn't mind grocery stores going back to paper bags if they had handles on them like the plastic bags do. When I had to transport a dozen paper bags over-filled from the store to the fridge, at least half a dozen eggs were smashed, 4 tomaties pureed, one carton of milk burst--well, you get the picture?

HillbillyBill of TN 7:19AM September 30, 2008