Paper vs plastic

[getforfree]

Whenever I shop at Raleys, the person who packages food in the bags usually asks if I want paper or plastic. I usually say plastic, because I use it instead of trushbags, so I don't have to buy any.

Last week, when I was there, the guy told me that the paper bags are enviroment friendly and all that stuff, I was like, yes, buy I don't want to spend extra $3 or whatever the cost of those trushbags every month.

Sometimes I take my trash out like 2-3 times a day, because it stinks, but if I would be using the bags that I pay for I would maybe take it out once in 2 days.

I don't think, that paper bags are that environment friendly, because I would trhow them aways and spend money on plastic. What do you think?

[autoxer]

Here is an article that thinks Plastic is a more environmental choice:
http://www.angelfire.com/wi/PaperVsPlastic/

I re-use the plastic bags to bring my lunch to work, but I think they are too small for trash.

[Roupey03]

I use them to bring my lunch to work also.

When I was a kid I used paper bags to make book covers. So it's your call their are uses for both bags.

[boefixepa]

I've used both for trash bags, I've used paper for bookcovers.

I use platic for just about anything I need to carry around too. So either would get reused as something in my house.

[poundwise]

Plastic is probably the better choice. You can reuse bags for wastecans, etc. and you can recycle the rest at most grocers and superstores nowadays too.

If you really want environmentally friendly, get your own cloth bags and carry them with you.

I choose plastic myself. And yes, we do recycle them.

[Ima saver]

I think they are too small for garbage bags too. I just throw the plastic ones away.

[PrincessPerky]

We use the paper for art, and we would never get a whole grocery bag threee times a day..maybe once..on a bad day.

But then we compost, and hardly ever have much packaging.

Ill ditto that environmentally friendly cloth reusable.

Or what we tend to do is use a box...course we shop at BJs and aldis alot so their is only the box to choose from....

When I was a teen I used my backpack.

[Bookie]

Don't you hate it when "Paper or plastic?" becomes an issue of environmental morality?

I vote plastic because I'm a Joyce Kilmer fan. Plus I use them for lots of things around the house. The public library solicits them as book bags, and the local grocery has a recycle bin where they can be left to be reprocessed into new grocery bags. Theoretically, they could be used indefinitely.

[getforfree]

Originally Posted by Bookie

Don't you hate it when "Paper or plastic?" becomes an issue of environmental morality?

I care less about environmental morality, I more care about if I would have to spend any extra money. I asked at some of the grocery stores if I can get a few cents off for not using any bags, they said now, so I am using them and reusing them. I never throw any plastic bags away unless they dirty.

[lrjohnson]

I reuse both plastic and paper. I try to get a balance of both so I am anot overstocked in either. I do a ton of recycling and use both types to collect.

[mud]

the local albertsons only gives out plastic, while the local trader joes only gives out paper.

I HATE paper bags. They always seem to rip.

[getforfree]

Exactly. Some paper bags will rip if you would put only one heavy item, like a gall of milk or a jar of picles.

[Crystallas]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

I reuse both plastic and paper. I try to get a balance of both so I am anot overstocked in either. I do a ton of recycling and use both types to collect.

same here

[nanamom]

I try to remember to always carry cloth bags with me. When my DD was a teen she made me a large cloth bag and told me to save a tree. I still have it and still use it alot. the stores around here recycle plastic bags so I can get rid of those every so often (like when I have a large bag of bags) The paper I keep a few of on hand so that we can use them for crafts stuff.My DH works for a paper mill so I don't work at saving as many trees as I used to!!

[andy'smama]

Paper bags are good for craft projects. I also keep onions in a paper bag after I cut it down and fold over the top (to give it more body). Keeps the onion skins from getting all over the veggie bin. Plastic bags are good for small waste baskets and I always take one along to pick up after the dogs when I take them for their walk.

[tgavin71]

In Australia there are very few shops that offer paper bags as an alternative to plastic. I am 35 and I have never been asked. The standard issue plastic bags are a great size for garbage. They are 30cm by 30cm. There is a big push to ban plastic bags altogether which is ridiculous because a majority of people reuse there plastic bags in one way or another. If they were banned I would just have to go and pay for them in another part of the store. the same amount of plastic is going to landfill.
All the supermarkets sell what are called "green bags" that are a sturdy cloth material that can be reused. If I have to get a lot of items I take a green bag because they are stronger but if I only need a couple of things and am running low on garbage bags than I will just use a plastic bag.

[getforfree]

Those green bags cost at least $1 or more, so I am not going to buy it. It would cost too much if I would have to buy a few of those, then launder it sometimes, then make sure I have it with me when I go to grocery store.... a, forget it.

I have small garbage cans in both kitchen and bathroom, so those bags fit perfectly. Now that we are having than challenge "no money for a week" and I am buying milk only for 2 weeks straight, I might run out of plastic bags, so whenever I buy milk, I ask them to double bag it. I also reuse plastic packagesfrom diapers, pads, tp and other products, which fit my trashcan in the bathroom.

[funnyvalentine]

hmmmm...no money for a week? I'd like to try this but I'm assuming that commuting doesn't count?

[Bookie]

Another thought on plastic grocery bags -- I did a lot (for me) of cooking Sunday. All the kitchen waste went into a smaller grocery bag I dropped into my larger one. When I was finished, I simply tossed the smaller bag of wet trash.

[getforfree]

Originally Posted by funnyvalentine

hmmmm...no money for a week? I'd like to try this but I'm assuming that commuting doesn't count?

You can make your own rules, you can go for a week, or in my case, I go for 2 weeks. You can spend money on things are absolutly necessary , like gas to go to work, or, in my case, I have 2 little kids and Dh who can't live w/o milk, so I buy milk only, but I cut our milk usage in half by going without it a day here and a half a day there.