Do you reuse your plastic bags at the store?

Question

I'm *finally* not using plastic grocery bags as a means to dispose of my children's diapers (yea!) but now I find that I am accumulating the bags and can't use them all for trash liners and lunch bags. I hate to see waste and I take them to the recycle can outside the stores but I wonder if I could reuse them to bag my groceries instead? Would that make it more difficult on the baggers as far as their routine and speed and convenience? If I bring my own bags does that mean that bagging would be expected to be done by me? I'm not sure the etiquette would be. Is this a good idea or should I continue to put them in the recycle can?

Answer 1

you bet, from kitty litter , trash, lunch , even paul pot had a good use for them, with out them we would be back to the year zero.please recycle, remember the killing fields.

Answer 2

I've spent more than two years thinking about and experimenting with the best way to deal with the plastic grocery bags.  My conclusion is that I should avoid as much as possible taking ~any~ thin plastic bags from ~any~ store.  I should also avoid sending them to landfill, because they typically end up in the oceans.  The environmental hazard of these plastic grocery bags is well documented.  I've also learned (by asking a representative of the San Jose Recycling) that these bags are "a pain" to recycle and often don't get recycled, even when the diligent citizen drops them into a recycle bin.

So, to answer your question:  I've found more and more grocery stores quite ~happy~ to let you bring in your own bags, repeat-the-plastic bags, reusable grocery bags (canvas or NWPP like "Monde Ami" carries), or anything else.  the baggers seem, to me, to cheerfully acknowledge your valiant effort to not waste resources.  Many grocery stores even offer a 3-5 cent discount for every bag you bring in.  Now there's a nice little incentive!

Answer 3

well if theres no bagger at the checkout then u can always bag the groceries yourself to speed up the bagging process.  bagging your own groceries, although not required are very common in Trader Joe's so don't be afraid to bring them back for reuse.  that way u can stop getting more plastic bags, get a 5-10 cent discount for each bag and you dont have to buy canvas bags saving u money.  Although I do use canvas bags at the store I would at times bring plastic bags since i think they fit in my pocket and they are very durable.  I think u should use them til they are worn out and use the recycling bin as the last resort.

Answer 4

The public library will take donations of plastic bags to use at the Friends of the Library booksale stalls.  You can also use them for craft projects.  Cut them up and make them into strips to crochet together.  Makes nice floor mats or patio rugs.  Instructions are available online.  Here's a link.

http://www.needlepointers.com/ShowArticl...

Answer 5

I believe it would slow them down on bagging. If you want to reuse, I use canvas bags that I have purchased all over when on vacation.

Answer 6

You could do as we do here in England, and BAG YOUR OWN SHOPPING. I am offered aid in bagging up my shopping, but always refuse.

Answer 7

First of all, I've never noticed any problem with bringing my own bags back into stores to re-use.  Some large stores encourage this by giving you a credit of a few cents off your total bill for each bag you bring back for re-use.  And many large stores actually sell canvas totes for the express purpose that you'll bring them back to refill over and over.  So obviously, many stores are happy to have their clerks/baggers reuse both plastic and canvas bags brought in by customers.  No, I've never had to bag my own just because I brought in my used bags - not that I would mind.  Anyway, what's to lose by trying? If for some reason it's not going to work out at your particular store, you'll find out, but at least you gave it a try and maybe raised a little consciousness while you were at it.  But I'm betting it will go great.  And if it doesn't, switch stores.

Second, I own a small natural foods store, and my customers bring me their used plastic grocery bags.  I LOVE getting free bags for re-use  - in 6.5 years in business, I have not even once had to buy new plastic bags.  Many times we get the same bags back over and over - I can tell because I find our store's receipts in them!  We use 'em until they're completely worn out.  It's great in every way:  we're happy because we're helping the environment as well as not having the extra expense of buying bags; the customers are happy because they get to clear their closets of the clutter of all those bags that they were stuffing in there because they felt too guilty about throwing them away.

So if you have an excess, just double-check to make reasonably sure you stored them clean - (it's NOT nice when I get ones that smell like they were stored in the garage next to the old oil filters or had some sort of toxic 'cleaning' product in them), and try bringing them to small grocery stores in your area - but do me a favor and shop from them while you're there... :-)  Buy local!

Answer 8

My guess would be to continue to put them in the correct recycle bins for recycle process. As far as proper etiquette? I think it would be percieved by store baggers and the people behind you, that if you were to produce your own bags, the effort taken on your part to recycle would be met with a smile from the bagger, and the patience from the person waiting behind you, and what extra time would it really involve? Another 30 seconds?

Answer 9

I have invested in re-usable shopping bags. One local store had them a dollar a piece. I stocked up. At places like wal-mart, they start bagging things in the plastic bags even though I tell them I have brought my own. But I find the smaller stores usually don't mind, and they will still help you bag if they are not busy. I shop at ALDI's grocery a lot. They never bag your groceries, and they do not provide bags,  you can buy some at the checkout. But there they scan your stuff put in an empty cart and then you go to a shelf area and bag it yourself. The only thing I can tell you is to put your bags infront of your groceries so they will realize that you have brought your own. Sometimes people zone out and when you tell them it goes in one ear and out the other.

Answer 10

I always reuse old plastic bags at the supermarket. I also use a couple of cotton shopping bags which roll up small.

I look around and am dismayed that I often seem to be the only person doing it

In Britain we pack our own bags so the dilemma above doesn't apply.

I can't see why the packers would object to reusing your old bags.

Answer 11

i wash those soiled with oil(whether they are small or big)along with the washing of dishes and let them dry,then include it with  the clean dried ones, i put them together in one bag or sack and have it sent or sold to plastic recycling plants that make plastic pipes, hangers, etc.

so is with paper, can, my only problem is those tetra packs.

Answer 12

yes for dustbins.

plastic bags are important dont throw them away so easily.

Answer 13

ditch the plastic bags - invest 99 cents a bag on the reuseable green bags and you'll be rid of the plastic ones forever. We love not having to get rid of those now after grocery shopping.

Answer 14

I shop for a family of 6 & am relieved to find how easy it's been to ditch taking plastic bags from stores once I put my mind to it in the New Year.  I take reusable bags to the store & of course pack them myself & if I forget the bags all the shopping has to go back in the trolley & then into the car - this way I'll train myself to remember every time even when I'm rushed off my feet. It's working!

Answer 15

Don't bring them back to the store to use them. They are very useful. I use them for kitty litter scoopings, as lunch bags for my job, or just recycle them.

Answer 16

I haven't received a "store bag" in nearly 3 years and always use reusable cotton bags.  If you decided to take this on, your problem would be solved for LIFE.  In the meantime, yes!  Please reuse your bags!  You will have to bag your own groceries, but most cashiers are more than happy to hand things to you instead of tossing them down the conveyer belt.

Answer 17

My store recycles them. When we gather a whole bag full (garbage bag) we send them to a recycling plant that melts them down to make new ones.

Most childcare centres will tkae them as well. They use them to put children's artwork into to take home, or clothing...lots of other uses too.

Answer 18

Those bags do accumulate fast and I think if you flatten them out and just have the baggers use the ones that are strong enough (like the Target bags, or maybe a double lined of the others) to hold stuff, then yes, definately! With the grocery stores now considering charging for each plastic bag, plus the baggers wasting 1 bag for only 2 or 3 items, this is a good solution and more people should do this. I'm seeing a lot more of these reuseable grocery bags with the stores logos on them.

Answer 19

Give them to the farmers who are selling their vegetables at farmers market, they need a lot of plastic bags.

Answer 20

You could reuse them, but baggers hate that. personally when i used to work in a grocery store, we used to just throw away bags that don't work the right way. a better idea is to buy, or some places give them away for free, the cloth bags that are meant to be reused.