Paper, Plastic or Cloth

I just saw an interesting piece on the news here in WA.  There is talk of a 20cent PER bag fee if you go to any store (convenience, grocery, liquor, etc.) in Seattle and ask for paper or plastic bags.  It made me wonder how many of you, like me, use the cloth bags?  I have about 25 bags for around 6 different stores.  Most of my stores, all but the commissary, give me a bag credit of 3 to 5 cents for each cloth bag I bring in be it theirs or one from another store.  The one store, will even give me a 5 cent credit for reusing their paper or plastic ones.  My biggest problem has been remembering to take the cloth bags into the store with me.  I am not too lazy though and will run out to the car as soon as I realize my mistake.

 

Kim

Kim~

I use cloth bags myself.  They are so much stronger.  I also sewed longer arm straps so I can easily tote them on my shoulder.  Handy for me, because my garage is on a lower level of my house than my kitchen and I always need at least one hand on the handrail climbing steps.

 Typically I don't forget to bring them into the store, but would forget to actually take them from time to time.  My trick is that after I've unloaded groceries, I stow the bags in the trunk of my car immediately.  That way, they're always there!  

Cheers! 

LBrouse, I keep mine in the trunk too.  Unfortunately I suffer from "out of sight, out of mind" syndrome.  If I am going to the store without my DH, I will usually, if I can remember, pile them onto the front seat under my purse.  I have also tried pinning my grocery list and coupons to them.  That only works, though, if you grab the stack on your way out of the house.  LOL

 

Kim

I would love to start using the cloth but the once they sale at the store are so cheap.  Your almost better off taking in the already used plastic bags!!!!  If any one knows where I can get good heavy duty canvas bags, please let me know.   GO GREEN

Jennifer

 Jenn~

 My mother-in-law and I made ours out of tapestry curtain, and canvas remnants.  The small remnant pieces can be purchased cheaply at a fabric store.   We also purchased the patterns for the bags (have several differents sizes).  But they REALLY were easy to make with a sewing machine and inexpensive.

 I wish our stores gave a credit for bringing our own bags, but they don't.  Although, I am faced from time to time with an annoyed cashier.  I guess the cloth bags may slow them down a bit.  But typically a joke and a smile gets them past their initial annoyance.

 

 Kim~  Luckily, if they make it into the car, they tend to make it into the store with me LOL!  Now, if only I were so good about remembering to take my coupons with me.  That is one part of the process I need to get more regimented on.  

Jennifer, I thought they felt cheap too, but have had some of mine going on two years now.  The biggest thing is DON'T bag really heavy items like milk, laundry soap and 12 packs of soda.  I will admit to getting one that fell apart fairly quickly, but I think that was because I overloaded it with close to 30 cans of soup, fruits and veggies.  You can make heavy weight ones with denim or canvas. 

 

LBrouse, I frequently go to stores where I can self check or have to bag my own.  I have even told cashiers and baggers I would prefer to do it myself so that it is done to my liking.  No eye rolls from anyone then.  They would rather let me do it myself.  My most recent mistake was taking the bag into a store and realizing I forgot to give it to the cashier.  She was so nice about it and I handed her the stuff out of the plastic bag.  The person in line behind me, however was annyoyed.  I just smiled and told her I don't need any plastic bags right now.  She turned and grabbed a couple off of the rack to purchase herself.

 

Kim 

I made mine from canvas scraps too. I didn't use a pattern, just made a tube and sewed up the bottom and added straps. I made three about the size of a paper grocery bag and one larger for cereals and light weight things. I hate those plastic bags that they overfill and then the contents spill out.....grrr.

CookieCarol, I hate the overfilled too.  I hate it when they only put 2 items in a bag even more.

 

Kim

We carry an assortment of  home-made bags, heavy-duty plastic (Trader Joe's reuseable bag) & a fold-up 1 from a newspaper in the car.  Trader Joe's give you a card to drop in to a bowl for a drawing.  Sometimes I forget, if I'm just running into Walgreen's for something  (there's 1 near where I work). 

I have several that I have crocheted and some I have made with Plarn "plastic yarn" which is made from the plastic bags.  YOu can also make rugs with plarn.  biggest problem I have with them is forgetting them at home.  I also use them to take me lunch to work.

I keep mine in the truck where I can see them but I can get away with that since I'm the only one that uses/rides in my truck. Check the craft stores for canvas bags. They usually have them for decorating and such if you need one for a pattern or if your like me and domestically challanged in the sewing area. I bought mine from the grocery - they have nice sturdy ones for $1.25 a piece that when folded out work like paper but can hold more. They are nice. I also have some different size canvas ones. Our grocery will give .05 per bag reused no matter the type or where you got them from. A nice incentive - esp when doing bulky shopping and I'm using a large amount of bags.

Kim~  I had to chuckle when you mentioned packing your own bags.  Ideally, I'd prefer that as well.  I have this quirk where I put everything on belt in logical groups.  Like, pantry items, freezer items, fridge items, fruit, toiletries, etc.   Because that's the way I'd like them packed!  Invariably, the checker makes his/her own packing rules and doesn't pack the items in the groups.  I wish I could pack them myself, but the grocery store I most often shop at is set up for the checker to scan the item and bag it immediately.  If I have more than 15 items, I can't check out myself. 

I arrange my stuff on the belt according to groups as well.  I get really annoyed with the one checker as he knows that's what I have done and will reach around and mix stuff up intentionally.  I try to avoid his line, but the one day he was the only one there as I had gotten to the store early.  I think if I ever get stuck with him again, I'll put my items up grouped together as separate orders.  That should solve that problem.

Kim

I'm to slow at the self check out!!!!  I figure it's the checkers job to do what pleases the costumer!!!!  But then again I worked with the public too.  It get's frustrating when I go some where and the person is treating you badly for just being there!!!!  I just had a  go off in my head,  when you are putting your items on the belt put your bags first!!!!  There wont be any tags so they can't ring them up.  Just an idea.