31 replies to this topic

[Jessi]

Tom Servo, on 01 November 2011 - 04:03 PM, said:

So, I was just at the grocery store, and for a moment I wished the grocery store would just get rid of all their plastic bags and force people to buy canvas ones. Then I sorta felt like a fascist. Seriously, though, canvas bags are a buck. I hate seeing all these people wasting plastic.

Some stores around my area actually have removed all plastic bags and if someone needs a bag, they have to buy a canvas one. The commercial stores don't do that yet, but the local ones have really caught onto the trend and I love it.

On a side note, though, I prefer to buy better quality bags. The dollar ones they often have at places like WalMart or the grocery store and usually so cheaply made that they seem to get torn up quickly or the handles start tearing, etc. It's not a big deal if you're only carrying a little bit each time, but if you're having to replace the bags frequently, that can get costly and counterproductive, too.

[iebo]

They're not very manly. They look a bit like  purses. Guys don't want to walk around with purses. Plus some people don't want to have to remember things like bags. My grocery store has a recycle bin for grocery bags. I think rather than forcing people to use the canvas bags, grocery stores could switch over to vegetable based plastic bags.

[brihooter]

I can see where a guy would feel like that.  You can get some that aren't girl looking though.  That's also good that your grocery store recylcles the bags.  That's awesome!!

[Jessi]

iebo, on 10 February 2012 - 05:52 AM, said:

They're not very manly. They look a bit like  purses. Guys don't want to walk around with purses. Plus some people don't want to have to remember things like bags. My grocery store has a recycle bin for grocery bags. I think rather than forcing people to use the canvas bags, grocery stores could switch over to vegetable based plastic bags.

That's strange considering my boyfriend actually bought me some of my first high-quality grocery bags. I suppose they're a bit different than some of the cutesy ones you see in the store, too. He uses insulated heavy-duty ones that are yellow with brown writing. They look nothing like purses and he doesn't carry them over his shoulder like one either.

As for those recycling bins at stores.... chances are, if you're the kind of person who doesn't want to try to remember to bring their reusable bags, you're probably not going to want to remember to bring your plastic bags back to the store either.

[iebo]

Jessi, on 10 February 2012 - 11:03 AM, said:

That's strange considering my boyfriend actually bought me some of my first high-quality grocery bags. I suppose they're a bit different than some of the cutesy ones you see in the store, too. He uses insulated heavy-duty ones that are yellow with brown writing. They look nothing like purses and he doesn't carry them over his shoulder like one either.

As for those recycling bins at stores.... chances are, if you're the kind of person who doesn't want to try to remember to bring their reusable bags, you're probably not going to want to remember to bring your plastic bags back to the store either.

Actually I do remember to take the bags because they pile up and my kitchen ends up looking like it belongs on Hoarders. So in the interest of keeping my house tidy I do take them in. Its not every time , but when they start to annoy me because of how many I have. I just chuck em in the front seat so I can't forget.

[brihooter]

Iebo, I have them stored under my kitchen sink.  I use them as trash bags for the trash cans in each of the bathrooms.  I should probably go drop some off at the store.  I have way more than I need.

[fancyfingers]

Tom Servo, on 01 November 2011 - 04:03 PM, said:

So, I was just at the grocery store, and for a moment I wished the grocery store would just get rid of all their plastic bags and force people to buy canvas ones. Then I sorta felt like a fascist. Seriously, though, canvas bags are a buck. I hate seeing all these people wasting plastic.

Tom, you are assuming the person once they get to their destination, will unload their groceries, then toss the bag out their front door. I and many others reuse our bags; lining all trashcans in my house with them, crochet bags out of them, use them as 'peanuts' when shipping items, just to name a few. Our garbage must be bagged or we will be fined and our garbage will not be picked up; city rules. I cannot justify buying plastic bags, when I get plastic bags free for purchasing my groceries at a store.
I do understand we all need to cut down on our consumption of plastic products. For me, the bags are being reused. I look for items packaged in the least amount of plastic. No easy feat when it comes to children's toys. I do write the manufacturer to ask them to cut back on excess packaging. If everyone would write the manufacturer to cut back and even list solutions, it may make a difference.

[brihooter]

I never thought about asking the children toy manufacturer about cutting down the packaging.  That is an excellent idea.  I buy kids toys all the time.  I will do this the next time I buy.

[Jessi]

I know what you guys mean about plastic and cardboard on all those children's toys. Geesh. The toy is so tiny and it usually has a dozen different layers of BS to cut through and untie/wrap before getting to it. It's simply ridiculous.

I hadn't considered writing the manufacturers about it, though. I wonder if they'll ever listen about it. It surely can't be cheap for them to package it that way either.

[brihooter]

I think it would probably take a lot of us calling them to make an impact.  I don't actually think that they would change it anytime soon.  I am sure everything is packaged on a machine like that.  There's no way that a person can do it all day.  I am just assuming anyways.

[fancyfingers]

With children's toys, in addition to all the excessive plastic, there are all the wires that are keeping the item secured in the packaging. I guess they do this so it is harder to steal. There are so many of these wires that secure so many things inside the package, it would be easier if all the items were put into one bag or container, put a seal on it like they do for medicine or, food (ketchup) and be done with it.

[Jessi]

MakingCents, on 12 December 2011 - 07:27 PM, said:

I also ALWAYS put meat in the plastic bags, don't want anything leaking and then growing in my canvas bags.

I think that's reasonable. You're using canvas bags to be greener, but still keeping yourself safe by wrapping things that could potentially leak.

On that note, please guys, remember to wash your bags every so often. I saw a study a few months back about how filthy people's bags were and they were just filled with salmonella, fecal matter, etc, because people never washed them. Ew.