Easy eco-frugal tip : bags
Ever go to the grocery store? Ever hesitate at the question “paper or plastic”? Do you like free money? Do you like the earth?
Great! Me too!
Here’s a painfully simple way to be green and save some green when buying groceries: bring your own bags. Most [all?] stores will happily accept used bags and give you a discount to boot! (My local store gives me $0.10 per bag)
Both plastic and paper bags require energy inputs for manufacturing and transport, carry groceries once, then end up in a landfill. Of course, even the flimsy plastic bags can be reused multiple times. Paper bags hold up even better. Canvas or Tyvek is the best option, as these will last years.
Here’s my challenge to you: put a few extra bags in your car and bring them in next time you buy groceries. Take the $0.50 you saved and buy some candy. Smile as you contemplate the energy you’re saving. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Filed under environment, frugal : Comments (5) : Oct 15th, 2007 by tadfad
October 15th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Just two days ago I stuffed a plastic bag full of other bags and put it on the front seat of my car in preparation for going to the grocery store. I forgot to bring them in with me, so now I’m just driving around a bunch of plastic bags. Also, my trunk is full of soda cans that I have been driving around for several months because I’m too lazy to stop at the can recycle-for-coins machine.
Actually, the last time I did manage to go I got so impatient shoving them into the drop that I simply left the bags of cans next to the big machine for the next person to do. Hopefully they enjoyed the $4.35 they earned from it rather than cursing the lazy person who left the bags there.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
A couple years ago I was real big on re-using my plastic bags when grocery shopping. One checkout lady was not to happy about me reusing them — it was harder for her to bag my groceries in the already-crumpled bags as opposed to the nice, clean, fresh, smooth ones on the twirly dispenser rack. She didn’t give me a discount, either.
October 16th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I bet most places would accept re-used paper bags more readily than re-used plastic. Paper doesn’t get as crinkly. Then again, it’s not that hard to un-crinkle a plastic bag either, so the stores should accept both!
P.S. Check out the google ads on this page. In perfect google form, they’re advertising reusable grocery bags. Lovely!
October 17th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I’ll add that it’s a good idea to put the cloth bags back in your trunk immediately after use. They’re easy to forget!
Also, I’ve noticed several Madison-area grocery stores switching to “Is plastic OK?” instead of “Paper or plastic?”
Chris: What is the price difference? I seem to remember having this discussion at 1317 many moons ago…
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:08 am
I recently got into a fight with someone who refused to use canvas bags. His excuse? “Well, I reuse the plastic bags until they get holes in them.” And then he throws them away. Same result. I gave him a canvas bag this week, and told him he better use it.
We hang our bags with our coats right by the front door. And I keep one in the car.