Bringing Your Own Shopping Bag

[pixie]

While many peoples outside the US may think it odd, I have always hated using plastic bags for shopping purchases. Many other places you bring your own bag or basket to carry home your purchase and yet in the US we just recently started allowing the same in major retail locations. Even now sometimes security hassles people about shoplifting.

The minute the first store started selling bags I bought a couple and started using them everywhere they would allow me. I purchased my own handbasket (collapsible aluminum and nylon) and have acquired enough bags (most free) to pack away everything I purchase weekly including non-grocery items. A foldable bag is always in the car so even last minute shopping need not waste a bag. And yet I still see families with 2+ kids taking out dozens of plastic bags a week.

Although my bags make me feel good about what I'm doing I have to wonder if its enough.

[EternalSearch]

I think that every bit helps. Some places-like LA, are now introducing take and toss bag taxes, and in fact the tax in LA is 25c a bag! That's HUGE!

I use all my own bags. I carry string bags in my purse because they are horribly strong and hold a lot, and don't take much room. I also have cotton totes in the house, and a folding shopping trolley. I think that plastic bags are one of the worst kinds of trash that there is.

[vera]

My grocery looked at me odd the first time I did this but thats what my family did "back in the day" and most have all continued the same. We have one area with a large tote full of bags in the pantry and I hate the idea of using anything that I can not reuse.

[ShortOfTime]

We've ALWAYS done this, and not in the US. I disagree with the statement that people outside of the US may think it odd-in Germany and the UK it is the normal practise. When I left the UK the majority of places still charged for take and toss bags, so my mother when I was a child always used a wheeled trolley, and nylon totes. I continued this when I came to the US.