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

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September 29, 2008 RSS Feed Print
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I've written before about the benefits of reusable shopping bags, but the Wall Street Journal brings up an interesting point today: How many of us have reusable bags that just sit at home? Sometimes, it's hard to break old habits. Other times, a run to the grocery store isn't premeditated, and you find yourself being forced to make do with plastic. Until cities ban plastic bags outright or stores cut down on the number of disposable bags they produce (as Wal-Mart recently announced it would), using a plastic bag is consequence free. And if we're still producing mass quantities of plastic bags in addition to reusable bags—well, that's not doing any good at all.

How often do you use a reusable bag?
Every time I shop for anything--groceries, clothing, pharmacy, whatever.
Most of the time I keep one in my car, but sometimes I forget.
Oh, that reusable bag? I used it when I bought it. Now it's gathering dust.
Why bring a reusable bag when the store gives me a plastic one for free?


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  • Any tips for remembering your reusable bags? Let us all know in the comments below.
Tags:
recycling,
shopping,
consumers,
environment

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You've all got Bagnesia (a person's forgetfulness to grab their reusable bags). You must get the Bagnesia Reminder Kit- it's a great solution so you'll never forget them again. www.bagnesia.com

kathy of FL 12:20AM February 15, 2009

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

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

Fresh Greens

Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. Send her your green tips.

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