Comments on: Reusable Shopping Bag Strategies

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:18:12 +0000

I have a bunch of canvas bags and string bags that I’ve accumulated over the years. They both outlast the “trendy” bags made from recycled bottles that are at all the stores. I also have a few of those recycled bottle bags that I got free from supermarket promotions. I have more bags than I use in a given trip, although we reuse plastic bags from shopping as trash bags, so we will sometimes take plastic bags (usually when going to CVS or WalMart or something).

A neat thing I saw at the farmer’s market was bags made from old t-shirts: cut off the sleeves and sew the bottom together, and you have a tote.

There are some other ideas at BagShare http://www.thebagshare.org/ (a neat project).
.-= Rebecca´s last blog post… Vegetable Fettucine with Meat Sauce =-.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:12:42 +0000

I buy rice in a bag that has a sturdy handle sewn onto it and can hang it off a garage rafter with the aid of a nail after storing something. Those burlap bags will help make a doghouse nice and cozy too. Funny thing is I’ve seen empty bags for sale that wouldn’t cost much more full.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:02:26 +0000

Rebecca,

For produce, I bought about a dozen reusable, cloth produce bags from either ebay or reusablebags.com. They are cheap, multi purpose and super eco! Most of the places I shop for food don’t have a problem with me using these, or doubling up on multiple bulky items in one bag. They get thrown in the wash with the regular kitchen towels.

We have multiple types of reusable grocery bags, which I try to use for all shopping. I also have a farmers market basket (great for buying eggs in bulk!). My boyfriend does a pretty good job (sarcasm) in keeping us in a small supply of plastic bags, which we use for garbage liners, dog poop, etc. For paper bags, they usually get resued for either documents that need to be burned or packing an overnite bag for our dogs.

By: Rebeca

Rebeca — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:26:41 +0000

Hi,

I am soon going to be chairing a committee for our farmers’ market on reducing waste, including plastic bags so I would also love to hear how people cope with using less plastic when shopping at a farmers’ market, particularly baby greens.

As for my current bag use: For impromptu shopping, I keep a Chico-type bag clipped to my purse so it’s always (or at least 99%) of the time with me when I have my purse. That usually coincides with all kinds of shopping, not just groceries. Both my husband and I also keep a net bag with re-used plastic produce bags in the back seat of our cars. If I use the car bag, I hang it from the front door knob as soon as I empty it so I’ll remember to take it with me next time I go out. For planned shopping trips, I have a stash of reusable bags in the closet. I really like the portability of the Chico bags but also have other folding bags, expandable net bags and canvas totes. The Chicos are all purpose, the net, great for greens that take up lots of space but don’t want pressure put on them, the canvas for heavier items like my bulk containers full of food, esp. the glass ones. I use plastic bags for garbage bags, so when I’m running low on them then I’ll accept a plastic bag from the store and try to make sure it’s doesn’t get any holes.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:45:34 +0000

I have the fabric grocery bags the chain stores sell – around here, they are about $1 per bag. I have a couple I bought from Disney at $2.95, but a portion of those proceeds go to their wildlife charity, so I went ahead and did it. I also have a bunch of paper grocery bags, I put all of my fabric and paper grocery bags folded up in one open bag, and bring them to each shopping trip. The only thing that can get irritating is when the bagboy takes ALL of them out, bags my groceries, then gives me a bunch of loose bags. Argh!

I keep one Disney fold-up bag (a la the Chico Bag) in the car for “emergency” shopping, but I don’t always remember to bring it in.

Most stores near me discontinued the BYOB discont of 5-10 cents, but during October, my local Target is offering a BYOB discount, so that’s nice.

When i get plastic grocery bags, I keep some to use, and take the surplus back to the grocery store for recycling. For that matter, I bring extra wire hangers back to my dry cleaner for the same reason.

Sorry to write a blog on your blog. BTW – just found you today via Cheeseslave RFW.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:15:51 +0000

Hi Wardeh -
I’ve been so busy fixing up my blog from the major loss of sidebar stuff that disappeared into thin air and my continued blog posting fix ups that are close to done that I haven’t been to anyones blogs lately. My son has been working with me to get it all fixed up and he has just a few more things to tidy up on his end of things since he is my Web host. So here I am catching up now that my blog woes are subsiding.
I found your posting about shopping bags humorous in that you don’t remember to bring reusable bags with you. I have the same problem. I have quite a few and what happens is when I get home, unload the car, empty out the bags, hang them up on their hook…..I will 9 our of 10 times forget to take them with me the next time. I really need to get into the habit of just taking the effort to bring right out to the car and put them in the trunk. But do I do that……NOooooo!
I always end up with plastic bags from the store…but in the end they really aren’t a problem for me. #1 – I reuse them as liners in the waste baskets around the house. #2 – I place them in a larger sack as they accumulate that hangs in the laundry room and when I need to mail a package that will contain something fragile I use them to pad instead of buying styro peanuts, or even bubble wrap if I can avoid it. #3 – when I get an over abundance of them they go to my recycling sorting bins. Our local Walmart has a very nice recyling center separate from the store for everything from glass to plastic bags, newspapers, cardboard, etc…
I like Millie’s comment about the Chico bags….I’ve seen them but never boughten any but one surely could make them with any type of fabric to fold down small and add a carabiner to it. I like the style of them, styled just like a plastic shopping bag giving you a sturdy grip to carry them….okay now this has my wheels spinning for a winter project.
.-= Pamela @ Seeds of Nutrition´s last blog post… Thankful Thursday: =-.

By: Millie

Millie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:45:01 +0000

I love the bags that Chico Bag does that fold into themselves. They are very small and perfect to keep in the glove box. And it has a carabiner so the bag can be clipped on. The bag holds alot and is washable. I have other reusable cloth bags but the Chico Bag is my favorite. .-= Millie´s last blog post... Antelope Stew =-.

By: Alyss

Alyss — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:01:17 +0000

I was doing pretty good at bringing my bag out to the car and keeping it there for random grocery store runs. I also usually try to keep a couple plastic grocery bags in the car as well. These are great to pick up after my dog, carry the few shopping items I buy or hold the unexpected foraged fruit or vegetables I find when out walking. These days, though, I’ve been forgetting everything. The summer to winter transition has been rough around here

By: cellultie analyst

cellultie analyst — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:40:33 +0000

I’ve been using the same brown paper bags from Whole Foods for all my grocery shopping over the past year. When I unpack the groceries, I put them right back in my car so they’re all ready for the next week. I can’t believe they’ve lasted this long. Plus, I get 10 cents back each time I reuse a bag. Since they’re double-bagged, thats about a dollar a visit for me.
.-= cellultie analyst´s last blog post… A Farmer’s Proud Moment: “Daddy, What’s McDonald’s?” =-.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:19:13 +0000

I have a couple of canvas tote bags from LL Bean and Lands End. I got them for Christmas years ago. Grocery baggers comment on them often, and love them because they stand up while the bagger is filling them. Since I don’t buy much in the grocery store I can generally carry my entire order out in those two bags.