I almost always use them except when I'm buying drippy chicken. I keep them in the car, unload them and immediately hang them on the doorknob so they go back to the car.
Well since I moved to California I've used them a couple times, but I mostly forget them. I usually ask for paper when I am at the grocery store because I use those to recycle cans and bottles in. When it comes to plastic bags I re use them as trash bags. Saves money on buying trash bags.
The plastic store bags all have little holes in the bottom to protect toddlers trying to suffocate themselves, so I'd never be very confident about them containing drippy raw chicken.
I like plastic grocery bags and I will be sad when they're gone. I re-use mine - I use them to clean the catbox and to carry my lunch to work everyday (differerent bags, obviously )
We re-use all of the plastic bags that we bring home, but we bring our own for the most part. Unfortunately, since the supermarket that I shop at most often bags the groceries for you they frown if you bring your own bag because it means that they can't just run on auto-pilot. I've actually had cashiers bag the groceries in plastic bags and then put the plastic bags inside of my reusable bags...duh...
We would pay a fortune for plastic bags if they charged for them -- for the most part, our stores bag the groceries for you and the cashiers regularly put only one or two items in each bag. If we do opt for plastic bags, we spend a ton of time re-bagging items and then leaving the bags for other people to use.
Also, when our plastic bags get too worn to use again (we often use them way more than once, especially for bringing lunches) they go to the recycling bin.
I would say I forget them about 90% of the time which is sad. I even tried leaving them in the car, and then hanging on the coat rack on the way out the door...still forget them. Our local grocer pays .05 for each bag you use too! Now if Wal-Mart would start doing that that would be great!
The plastic store bags all have little holes in the bottom to protect toddlers trying to suffocate themselves, so I'd never be very confident about them containing drippy raw chicken.
The ones at our store don't. DH uses them for conditioning his rawhide for sewing. He fills them with water and then lets the rawhide soak. He can usually get 10 or 15 soaks per bag. I've used them before to take drippy soup to the dumpster and they don't leak a bit. I just carry the bag through the house and out the front door with no need for mopping up.
Maybe there are different standards for bags in different states/countries?
Last edited by Kim_Star060404; 01-19-2009 at 03:51 PM.
I also reuse the bags milk comes in. bread/bagel bags. The are great for pickup up after the dog. The bread bags if tied properly can hold two pick ups because they are longer.
I've had reusable bags for about 2 years now, but it took me a while to get used to bringing them with me. If I don't immediately get them all stuffed back into one bag and ready to go back into the car right after a grocery trip then I'll end up forgetting them. I usually have an extra Chico bag or two in the car for quick trips.
At grocery stores and drug stores in Seattle, shoppers are now charged $0.20 per bag for each plastic or paper bag they use.
Estimates for plastic bag use range from 500 Billion to 1 Trillion bags worldwide per year. It takes 12 million barrels of oil to produce every 100 Billion bags.
If I screw up and forget mine, I don't mind paying the fine. Hopefully I'll be more careful next time.
Unfortunately, since the supermarket that I shop at most often bags the groceries for you they frown if you bring your own bag because it means that they can't just run on auto-pilot.
LOL, same here, I have to make eye contact with the bagger and just about wave my tote bags in the air saying "I have these, please"
Quote:
Originally Posted by SusanB
Another problem is that my reusable bags grow legs and walk. I should have about a dozen but can only find 5!
haha, some of mine have gone over the wall also
I use a few reusables also for our returnable empties; after redeeming the empties I have a couple bags for shopping right then and there.
)
DH uses them for conditioning his rawhide for sewing. He fills them with water and then lets the rawhide soak. He can usually get 10 or 15 soaks per bag. I've used them before to take drippy soup to the dumpster and they don't leak a bit. I just carry the bag through the house and out the front door with no need for mopping up. 
