Poll: Do You Use Reusable Shopping Bags at the Grocery Store?

Do You Use Reusable Shopping Bags at the Grocery Store?

February 5, 2010

Source: Flickr User Michael Francis McCarthy

20 Comments

I have been using reusable bags for 14 years for personal use and for my business. It is the responsible thing to do. Reusable bags are stronger than plastic as well as easier to carry. Every time I use my bags I am setting an example for what I would like others to do. The grocery store I frequent used to give money back on reusable bags but no longer offers that.

sourcherries 3 years 15 weeks

I try to! I keep some in my car, but sometimes I do forget. I do reuse the plastic ones, though. I think the 5 cent charge (think Wal-mart was going to start) would help remind me.

runnereater 3 years 15 weeks

I'm usually pretty good about bringing my hardy Trader Joe's bag when I'm going to buy food. Those regular plastic bags just add up too quickly, but I do try to keep a few on hand for lining trashcans and other random needs.

marie-lee 3 years 15 weeks

DollyD we also have something similar here. Regular supermarket shopping bags have been banned. You can still get the thicker ones some places, usually with the idea that you reuse them. The stores set their own prices if you don't bring your own bags. I have a couple of fabric bags I keep in my handbag. I do think it is a bit strange though most of the 'green alteratives' are just thicker plastic bags.

dollyd 3 years 15 weeks

There is a new law in DC that you have to use them or pay 5 cents for a disposable bag.

bluesarahlou 3 years 15 weeks

When I don't forget them in my car, yes. If I'm running in for just a few things I'll just skip the bag altogether and carry them in my hands or purse.

betty kraker 3 years 15 weeks

i always forget mine but when i get plastic i always bring them to a recycling thing

HoneyBrown1976 3 years 15 weeks

Yeah, I even have one for Target and JoAnn's Crafts.

Hello890 3 years 15 weeks

Yes!

AlexisSF 3 years 15 weeks

when i don't forget the bag, yes!

buzzlightgirl 3 years 15 weeks

If I forget my bags, I always ask for paper so I can reuse it and then recycle them.

Spectra 3 years 15 weeks

Yep, almost always. I do sometimes get plastic bags at the store because I need them for trashcan liners and doggy pick up bags. I don't feel bad if I'm going to be reusing them like that.

snarkypants 3 years 15 weeks

kind of. i only have a couple of re-usable totes, so for my major shopping trips, i also use some reusable paper bags.

gigly_grl 3 years 15 weeks

I actually said no. Because when I go grocery shopping I walk over to the store with my little shopping "granny" cart. Flip it upside down and it sits very easily in the store's shopping cart handle bars! Then once I've paid I pack my groceries straight into my cart... thus eliminating any need for bags!!! And for the random stops on the way home from work, I have a reusable nylon bag as my keychain... so I always have it with me. My big issue is that I will get plastic bags when I go to Walmart once a month so I can have garbage bags. I've tried several compostable garbage bags but I find that they are uber expensive and ALWAYS start breaking down in my bin!

suziryder 3 years 15 weeks

I do, but not all the time. I'm trying my best to be better about it! I'm getting much better about using them for the weekly grocery trips, but I do tend to forget them for a quick mid-week trip to the grocery store. But I use them MUCH more regularly than I did a year ago, and the past few months I've been pretty consistent about it.

girlA 3 years 15 weeks

My sister sends me the great totes from Trader Joe's since we don't have one where I live. They're so cool-looking, they're like an accessory you can't go to the grocery store without!

fuzzles 3 years 15 weeks

I do, but there is certainly room for improvement. The paper bags that I do bring home are used to store recyclables for the bin. Any plastic bags are used for trash. And if I do end up accumulating plastic bags from other non-grocery stores, several of my area markets have on-site recycling bins for them.

onlysourcherry 3 years 15 weeks

i keep like three in my car because i'm always forgetting one up in my apartment. I feel soooooo guilty when i have to use the plastic bags though! I always try to reuse them as trash bags for my car.

bluebellknoll 3 years 15 weeks

I always use them on the weekly grocery trip but then I end up forgetting them if I go any other time during the week. It's like a mental block or something! Frustrating.

LMessing 3 years 15 weeks

I use them 100% of the time for groceries, but it's harder to remember to take them into other stores for some reason. I actually just bought a package of these this week: http://www.3bbags.com/ I like them but it's worth noting that you shouldn't store loose greens in them the way you would the plastic produce bags. They're a fine mesh, so the greens I had in one were wilted and kinda yucky the day after I bought them. Lesson learned the hard way!

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