Moving Towards Reuseable Bags
Friday, October 03, 2008 Posted by Christina
Walmart announced this week that it will reduce plastic bag waste by 1/3 by the year 2013.
At first I was impressed, but then I was thinking, that's all? Only 1/3? That's five years from now!
And then I thought about my own habits. Yeah, I guess that is a reasonable goal.
You see, I haven't converted to reuseable bags yet. I am starting to amass a collection of various bags, but I just haven't gotten into the habit of using the reusable totes.
In my heart, I know it is the right thing to do. I know all the reasons why I should use them. But I'm lazy. And forgetful. And I must admit, I sometimes like plastic and paper bags.
I like plastic bags for carrying wet swimsuits and towels back from the lake. I like them for lining wastebaskets. I like to wrap up my meat wrappers in plastic bags and throw it in the freezer until I can take them to the landfill so it doesn't stink up my garbage. I like to use them as padding in packing boxes.
I like paper bags, too. I like to use them for taking my newspapers, magazine and paper to the recycling center. I like to make wrapping paper out of them. I like to cover school books. I like using them to protect my table when we do art projects.
So, for me, this kind of transition probably will take five years. But I'm trying. I've put my bags in the car, which is one step closer to the store.
At first I was impressed, but then I was thinking, that's all? Only 1/3? That's five years from now!
And then I thought about my own habits. Yeah, I guess that is a reasonable goal.
You see, I haven't converted to reuseable bags yet. I am starting to amass a collection of various bags, but I just haven't gotten into the habit of using the reusable totes.
In my heart, I know it is the right thing to do. I know all the reasons why I should use them. But I'm lazy. And forgetful. And I must admit, I sometimes like plastic and paper bags.
I like plastic bags for carrying wet swimsuits and towels back from the lake. I like them for lining wastebaskets. I like to wrap up my meat wrappers in plastic bags and throw it in the freezer until I can take them to the landfill so it doesn't stink up my garbage. I like to use them as padding in packing boxes.
I like paper bags, too. I like to use them for taking my newspapers, magazine and paper to the recycling center. I like to make wrapping paper out of them. I like to cover school books. I like using them to protect my table when we do art projects.
So, for me, this kind of transition probably will take five years. But I'm trying. I've put my bags in the car, which is one step closer to the store.
October 3, 2008 8:46 AM
I've used plastic mart-bags for our garbage for years. In our city you must use plastic bags for garbage. I don't know what the benifit would be to start paying for the larger plastic kitchen bags? This seems to end up an issue of "lesser evils" depending on so many things. No clear cut answers like I would have hoped, maybe someday.
October 3, 2008 9:26 AM
I keep a bag (chico bag) in my purse, I would say more than half the time I go shopping, i only need one bag so this works great.
I did give up plastic bags a year ago, it does become second nature.
October 3, 2008 1:29 PM
I always take my own bag to the store.. because I don't drive they are so much easier to carry so it works for me....
I do use plastic bags for our bathroom trash so when I run out, I will have them sack my groceries or whatever in plastic bags and then stick those in my bag...
So I'm not completely plastic bag free but... I guess I do my little part (even if it is for my own selfish reasons, lol)
October 3, 2008 7:00 PM
I always used to forget my cloth bags when shopping until I started using the PackNTote from reusablebags.com. It attaches to my cart. I fill it as I shop, unload it at the cashier, and refill it as items get checked out. Because these bags are a part of how I shop now, I tend to remember to bring them in to the store more often than not. I only get plastic bags (for trash) or paper bags (for newspapers) when I need them.
October 4, 2008 3:56 PM
I made the conversion to reusable totes over a year ago and haven't looked back. I still occasionally get plastic bags (especially when I purchase meat). My trick: As soon as the groceries are unpacked and put away, the bags go back out to my car.
It takes a bit of getting used to but it's absolutely worth it and will become second nature in no time!
October 4, 2008 9:23 PM
My neice got me to *go green* when she gave me a set of reusable bags from Envirosax for my birthday in May. They are a bit pricy ($40 for 5 bags), but they are really nice and each bag holds twice as much as the plastic ones. In addition to those, I have 7 other canvas-type bags I also use. One Saturday, I forgot to take the bags with me when I went shopping. I almost felt like I was doing something illegal, not using my own shopping bags! LOL