Comments on: Grocery bags

By: Adam@Vacuum Sealers Unlimited

Adam@Vacuum Sealers Unlimited — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:55:37 +0000

I love using reusable grocery bags! They are more sturdy – and I feel more conservative when I do!

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:47:11 +0000

You do realize that reusable bags have been used for decades, particularly in Europe, right? And there aren’t many tales of salmonella running rampant through the countryside over there? (Even from open air markets, where they don’t always use plastic produce bags to bag stuff, they just put it in your grocery bag?)

Hygienically sealing yourself off from the world doesn’t protect you.

And the free plastic grocery bag subsidy is ecologically and economically unsustainable.

By: sdfgs

sdfgs — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 03:25:32 +0000

How idiotic. Don’t you realize that reuseable bags are so unhygenic? All that bacteria from meat, milk and vegetables. And you’re going to wash them, right. How much energy and waste does that produce? It’s cheaper and better for plastic/paper bags. Just wait until the lawsuits start because of the salmonella poisoning from bags.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:25:32 +0000

@Another Diane

We also shop once a week. We have about 15 reusable bags that we keep in the truck. When we stop at the store, we take the amount out that we think we will need, plop them in a shopping cart, take them into the store, and use them at checkout. No problem. We started with one bag. For a while, every time we would see one we liked, we would buy it. We have bags from all over the country. We had to stop buying bags recently because we never use all 15 at the same time. Our new favorite bag is: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags%E2%84%A2-earthtote-original-p-10.html

By: cloth wine bags

cloth wine bags — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:56:34 +0000

Did You Know:

* Reusing a bag meant for just one use has a big impact. A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags.
* In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by 5 million lbs. and save $250,000 in disposal costs.
* Plastic bags carry 80% of the nation’s groceries, up from 5% in 1982.
* When 1 ton of paper bags is reused or recycled, 3 cubic meters of landfill space is saved and 13 – 17 trees are spared! In 1997, 955,000 tons of paper bags were used in the United States.
* When 1 ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved.

Paper or Plastic?

The energy and other environmental impacts embodied in a plastic grocery bag is somewhat less than in a paper grocery bag. But paper is easier to recycle, being accepted in most recycling programs. The recycling rate for plastic bags is very low.

So, which is better for the environment? Neither! The fact is that the difference between paper and plastic RECYCLING is small compared with the REUSING bags.

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:03:51 +0000

I think using cloth bags is a great idea…you slowly collect them over time and then have plenty to take with you when you shop. Using the plastic bags is a total waste…do something good…take your own bag to the store!

By: FyUyCyKyOyFyF

FyUyCyKyOyFyF — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:27:53 +0000

I work at a supermarket. If anyone asks me to double bag something (or even triple bag) I explain that a) the bags are strong enough, b) it isn’t store policy, and c) it’s a waste of my time. If they still insist (usually rudely) I make sure the item(s) in the bag puncture through in a corner or the bottom so there’s a chance it will rip on the way home and break.

Don’t go into a place of business and tell the staff how to do their jobs.

By: Miss Kitty

Miss Kitty — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 05:08:33 +0000

This website has knit bags for $4.00 a piece that fit on the sack rack at the grocery store: http://www.sexyoldbag.com . I’ve had baggers initially almost refuse to bag my groceries when I mention that I have brought my own bags, because they’re used to the cloth bags being difficult to fill. But once I show them that the bags hang right on the rack, and won’t be any more difficult to fill than a plastic bag, they usually seem relieved, and sometimes make comments about how much they dislike the canvas bags.
Cloth grocery bags are the wave of the future, even at the store whose name ends with “Mart,” I’ve been told they will eventually not have plastic bags any more. When you do a little research, you realize what a problem these plastic bags really are. It’s scary!

By: Jen B.

Jen B. — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:13:30 +0000

I LOVE the idea of reusing the mesh onion bags to put your veggies instead of using all the plastic produce bags! Great!

By: John

John — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:07:13 +0000

It's nice to see so much interest and dialog on the subject but it is true that Europeans in general are far more adapted and realistic about such matters. They don't expect a free bag at the store and typically bring their own bags. For comparison to other options mentioned above ... Reusable Canvas Bags by NotAMall