Reuseable grocery bags?

[aevans1206]

I use 'em. I keep them in the car, but many times forget them when going into the store.

The one concern I have is when I get fruits and veggies. I usually put all of the apples into those little plastic bags, green beans, kiwi, etc. etc. How do I deal with that? Those small bags make it easier for them to weigh the produce I'm buying and I buy a LOT of produce. So using reuseable bags negates the point when I buy produce. What to do?

[FrugalTexan75]

I bought a reusable bag from Walgreen's, and so far have used it once at Whole Food's - got a $.5 discount. I'll be going grocery shopping tomorrow at Walmart and will bring it, plus another tote bag - I'm curious if Walmart will give a discount. If they do, then I'd like to find some of those self-contained bags mentioned by previous posters.

[kilcher]

None of my grocery stores give discounts for bags. I shop a lot at Foodmax, foodsource, and winco. I asked if they give discount for bringing your own bags, they said no, so why do extra work for free which actually costing you extra $$.

In my opinion it's less work. Not only do I get the discount but I can fit more items in less bags. The bags are also easier to carry and don't dig into your hand like a plastic bag with heavy items would.

How exactly is it more work? You have to walk from your house to the car, from the car to the store, and back anyway. Is it really that much more work to carry a light canvas bag with you?

[GrimJack]

Here in Seattle they are going to start charging 20 cents per bag (plastic or paper) for those grovery bags - this is a city fee, to be passed by city council; this will make it worth while to drag those cotton bags around and keep the grocery bags out of the environment.

[tabbycat31]

I think local ordinaces (I think San Francisco also did this but correct me if I'm wrong) will end use of el cheapo plastic bags.

What I hate is when I bring my cloth bags, many cashiers pack the food in plastic bags then put them in the cloth ones. I think that defeats the purpose idiots.

[getforfree]

In my opinion it's less work. Not only do I get the discount but I can fit more items in less bags. The bags are also easier to carry and don't dig into your hand like a plastic bag with heavy items would.

How exactly is it more work? You have to walk from your house to the car, from the car to the store, and back anyway. Is it really that much more work to carry a light canvas bag with you?

more work and expences is that:

*you will need to wash/launder those bags once a while.
*you need space to store them and make sure you don't forget it when you go to the store
*I would have to buy a bigger purse if I want to put 2-3 bags in it, because I have my wallet, keys, coupons and some other stuff in it.
* I use my grocery bags as a trush liner, so I don't have to buy any.

[benosayi]

My daughter is very green. She tells me all these things about trash being around a hundred years. I walked in the house with a styrofoam cup and she started talking about how long my cup would be in a landfill. I always bring my canvass bags. Trader's joes has very nice bags.

[76Chick]

does it help we reuse the bags (at least once for my lunches)?
i know- prolly not. <<hangs head in shame>>

i could have sworn I just saw small canvas tote bags @ Oriental Trading for really cheap... I will have to go back and look...

if nothing else, a good reminder! =)

[geojen]

For me, it is the principle of it. The sight of fluttering plastic bags stuck in a tree outside my house just bothers me a lot, maybe more than it should. But it strikes me as indicative of the attitude that has got us (humans) into the situation we are in. We are a throwaway, somebody-else's-problem, want-it-now society. I know that my choice not to use plastic bags in and of itself will probably have no effect on the world. However, since I am only one person, that is all I can hope to do.

A one-time $5 purchase of a few reusable bags is not going to make any difference in your wallet. Not every decision has to be made purely on the basis of cost. Sometimes you have to use your wallet to make statements based on principle.

I completely agree with you. Sometimes, even if something costs a little more out of pocket, you should do it because its just the right thing to do. This whole "this slightly inconveniences me and has no immediate payoff so I'm not gonna do it" is so...infuriating. It shows the selfishness that has come to permeate our society.

[pjmama]

I have a couple trader joes canvass bags, and I love them. They're so much sturdier than plastic, and easier to carry than paper ones. Besides, I shop at ALDI, and I dont have to buy bags if I bring my own!