stop using plastic bags

Yesterday my DH was walking out the door to get some groceries and so I handed him one of the bags. It was helpful that I had the reusable bags in hall next to the door so I could remember to ask him to use them…I’m so glad he’s open to change!

I was at the full-service grocery store where I can get a lot of organically-grown items. I happened to select the check-out line where they had installed a stand with reusable grocery bags to purchase! Yay! I bought four bags. These bags kind of ‘stand up’ like big paper bags so the baggers can more easily handle them (as opposed to string bags or other floppy bags).

I know the guy bagging the groceries didn’t like it so much; you know they get in a groove with how to fill those nasty plastic bags lickety-split (before I can get my change and my frequent-buyer card loaded into my wallet…argh…and the next customer’s breathing down my neck—oh no, don’t get me started…)

For three weeks now, I’ve gone to the discount grocery store and used my own container system. I’m very happy not to use the plastic bags, as I previously fumbled with the plastic and also had to use so many of them to corral my purchases.

My groceries are easier to bring into the house, too, with the box and the shopping bags with handles. Yay!

And, a few days ago I was at the office supply store getting a little pack of 3×5 cards (for my hipster PDA) and remembered at the last minute not to get a bag (really, a bag for a purchase that fits in my hand?). A person has to be diligent all of the time!

I had to make a quick stop at the full-service grocery store, where there are people hired to do the very thing I don’t want done—and that is for the groceries to be quickly bagged into a multitude of plastic.

I’m not sure how they deal with people who don’t want their plastic bags. I haven’t seen anyone bring in their own bags, either mesh or canvas.

So I made a pre-emptive gesture. I brought two bags that I got from this store on a previous trip (before I resolved to not accept any more plastic bags). When I brought my handful of items to the cashier, I told her that I brought my own bags that I would ‘rebag’. She said, “Oh, thank you.” So I guess that will work for the smaller trips there.

Next time I’m there, I neeed to check if they have any kind of reusable bag that is easy for their baggers to fill.

My latest money-saving mission is to shop at the discount grocery store where you bag your own purchases. I had been using their plastic bags since I subsequently take the plastic bags to a recycle bin or to the charity thrift shop that needs shopping bags (that’s a good thing, right?).

However, I’m tired of these bags! I seem to always struggle with the dispensers at the end of the conveyor belt and can’t load my items very quickly. Also, I find that I can’t get that many items in one of the bags anyway. Keeping these empty bags corralled at home and ready to take to a recycle bin (which is at a store I don’t shop all that much) or to the charity is taking more of my time than I like. A week ago, I finally realized (duh) that I don’t have to mindlessly accept their plastic bags!

So yesterday I brought my own recycled large sturdy bags and a lightweight box to pack my groceries in. It was GREAT! It took no time at all to get my items in my two bags and box. It was easier to unload the groceries at home since my bags have better handles. And the box was more suitable for the light items that I stacked effortlessly.

Oh, and then there’s the environmental angle of not acquiring the bags in the first place and creating less demand for them (albeit I am just one person).