Charging a nominal fee for each plastic bag you use at the grocery is one very good idea to reduce waste and raise revenue (at least temporarily).
My introduction to this idea came in Ireland. You can ask el ranchero and sap about the terrible problem with plastic bags swamping city streets and waterways prior to the institution of a per-bag fee. I can attest to the fact that plastic bags are very scarcely seen these days on the same streets and waterways. I can also attest to the fact that it takes very little time and effort to get accustomed to reusable bags, and the getting-to-know-you period is made even less problematic by the fact that you can tote at least 2x the content in a reusable bag than in a regular plastic bag. We get our weekly groceries, including bigger items like milk, juice, and six-packs, in the same four Tesco bags I bought almost two years ago for 1 euro a piece. It becomes more of a no-brainer by the fact that more groceries are selling their own reusable bags for similar cost and offering credits for using them. Meijer, Kroger, and Martin’s all sell theirs for $1, if I’m not mistaken, AND you get 5¢ back per reusable bag per trip.
From what we see at our grocery, more people are steadily moving toward reusable bags. There’s literally no good reason why plastic grocery bags are preferable to reusable bags, but positive reinforcement is rarely enough to make lasting change. In this and most cases, a little negative reinforcement would go a long, long way. Six cents per bag is little enough to not make a dent in anyone’s wallet, but annoying enough to make reusable bags that much more attractive. I’m all for it.
Of all the green changes we’ve made in the last couple of years, this might be one of our most successful. I never worry about whetherone’s gonna break while I’m carrying it and we now can almost always bring in all our groceries on the first trip from the car. We have 3 bags from Meijer that were $1 each and to date have lasted us 2 years with no sign of wear whatsoever.
I have reusable bags, but forget then when we go to the grocery store! You have reminded my nagging inner self to nag me more. Maybe I should just keep them in the car? I think we need to go for the $1 bags, too — ours (much more expensive, but much more cute) are also much more flimsy. Hmph.
My greenest daughter introduced me to the most wonderful ReUMe bags for Mother’s Day last year. It was downright comical the first time I took them to Kroger’s. Now they know they actually will hold 50 lbs, and usually pack them accordingly. I only get 4 cents back per bag, but it’s worth it introducing the idea here. I never see anyone else with their own bags, and mine are beautiful, as well as strong! Thanks, M.
love, Mom
Oops, I checked the name when I went out last. The brand name is RUMe.
Mom
I’m thinking about picking up one of those extra-large bags they have at Dunne’s, the ones that will fit giant packs of toilet paper and paper towels… And the ones that you see two people walking back from the grocery, each holding one handle.
The bags are awesome, and don’t feel bad, Zee, it took us a while to remember to use them all the time! I highly recommend keeping 2-3 in the trunk of your car at all times- at a dollar a bag it won’t break the bank, and that way you’re always prepared. Well, once you also develop the habit of putting the bags back *into* the car after you empty them. That one took a while, too.