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

bags:

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 @ Feb 12, 2009 17:43:25 PM

bags:

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 @ Feb 12, 2009 17:43:17 PM

Reusable Bags

Bagnesia (a person's forgetfulness to grab their reusable bags) is your symptom, your cure is the Bagnesia Reminder Kit. I just purchased one at www.bagnesia.com & I always remember my reusable bags now.

Bagnesia reminder kit contains simple, effective products that work together so you never forget to take your reusable bags into the store again. Plus, it come with this big, stylish, washable compact bag that fits in my purse so I always have it with me.

Casey of MD @ Jan 26, 2009 15:06:39 PM

I never forget my bags now that I found ChicoBags

I have used reusables for years now. However, I used to sometimes forget them and I never dragged them for quick trips to the drugstore, the mall, etc. They were only used for groceries and sometimes I'd forget them.

Then I found ChicoBags (www.chicobag..com). They compress into a self-contained pouch and you can clip them to your key ring. So I always have at least one bag with me no matter where I go and I have eliminated my use of plastic bags entirely. No more forgetting them.

I give the bags as stocking stuffers too. One of my friends took her bag to Germany because it was to tiny when compressed it didn't take much room in her suitcase, and you have to bring your own bags in Germany. So it worked well.

Zippy of CA @ Nov 04, 2008 12:03:13 PM

I use reusable bags all the time. I keep them on my door handle, in my car and I shove them in my bag. My husband, he forgets often, he's more of an 'impulse shopper' than I am.

I think it's important for consumers to make conscious decisions about their reusable bags; What's the country of origin? What material is this made up of? Is it an eco-friendly material? Does this bag fit my needs? Is it too small to hold a cereal box? Will my husband use it if it looks too girly? I found a great set of reusable bag that I love by Hero Bags, www.herobags.com made in the US (go US economy) out of recycled materials and they actually FIT groceries for my entire family.

CalMom of CA @ Oct 02, 2008 14:39:51 PM

"eco-pouch"

I found a reusable bag that I love. www.ityse.com You can choose between 2 different systems. One of them, the "iTySE" is a bag and has pockets "Eco-Pouch??" on the inside to keep your bags so you just always have them. The one I got for my sister the BiTySE is smaller pouch that you store the 5 inside bags in. I agree half the battle is just remembering...kinda like the whole "seat-belt" thing.

kaydee of ID @ Sep 30, 2008 16:12:25 PM

I use them

To put all the other packaging materials--including more plastic--that everything comes in to put the whole mess out for the trash collection each week. Public Works takes it all to the local landfill. There it sits for future archaelogists to dig up and ponder what our civilization was up to.

They also make handy "garbage bowls" (like Rachael Ray uses for waste packaging & parts of the recipe ingredients she doesn't use) except that I don't have to wash the bowl like she does after she dumps the contents into a plastic bag for the garbage collection.

I wouldn't mind grocery stores going back to paper bags if they had handles on them like the plastic bags do. When I had to transport a dozen paper bags over-filled from the store to the fridge, at least half a dozen eggs were smashed, 4 tomaties pureed, one carton of milk burst--well, you get the picture?

HillbillyBill of TN @ Sep 30, 2008 07:19:06 AM

I'm with you!!

I almost wet myself at your comments. Please don't forget to mention the waste of water, use of detergent(bad bad) & power (elect., gas & physical) involved in washing the reuseable bags.

Steven of NC @ Sep 30, 2008 04:31:17 AM