Why don't grocery stores make their plastic grocery bags out of recycable material?

Question

Instead of selling those $1 reusable bags, which, the majority of the population doesn't use, and probably won't (if they would buy the bag, people would've started to shop with their own bags brought from home)

Answer 1

I was wondering the same thing, or how is it possible that we can be a world with billions of people and we cant make a plastic that breaks down easier in landfills? The bags wouldnt be such an issue if the plastic was made of a more organic material that broke down faster after it was thrown away. Its probably bc its cheaper and easier just to give us the plastic bags they do.

Answer 2

Some countries require shops sell bags for a certain fee, and this encourages people to use their own bags.

Normal plastic bags are recyclable, but most end up in landfill. Shops use the plastic bags because they are cheap. Unless all shops are forced to use paper bags or something else, then they won't.

Recycling is your responsibility, so make sure you re-use to recycle your bags.

Answer 3

Many grocery stores have a collection bin for used bags so that they can be recycled.  Also they make great pooper scooper bags for your pets little presents and they are the perfect size to use in most bathroom trash cans.

Answer 4

Cost

The grocery stores REPLACED their recyclable paper bags with the plastic ones because they are cheaper.  Making a plastic bag that is biodegradable would bring the cost up beyond what the old paper bags cost.

Frankly, they should never have switched to the plastic bags in the first place.  They did so because the cost of paper rose over that of plastic, but now that the price of oil is going up and you can recycle paper so easily the reverse will soon be true, if not already.  However, the cost of converting back to paper bags would be excessive; at least that is the argument that is going to be used to justify not using paper bags.

If you go to Kroger and bring your own bags then you can ask the cashier to enter code 72, which will give you a one nickel discount for each of your own bag that you bring.  If you go to American Scientific Surplus you can get over print, and misprinted cloth grocery bags for $1.00 each.  That is what I did two years ago.

However, if you go to a place like Wal Mart which is set up ONLY to use the plastic bags you have to pull your groceries out of the plastic bag and repack them into the cloth bag, which is a pain.  So now days I reuse the plastic bags as small garbage bags and save those that I don't use to recycle at either Wal Mart or Kroger.

Wal Mart has some bad policies by undercutting their employees and any local competition; but they do have a good green policy and most stores should have a bag recycle area.  If not then find a store that does have a recycle bin for your plastic grocery bags.