I’m in Milwaukee, eating and writing up a storm. To tide you over, here’s a great WSJ article on the rise of the reusable bag, replacing the so-called “T-shirt” disposable plastic bags that have become the environmentalist’s new bête noire. It’s a well-written, balanced piece and brought a few things to light for me (like how the “I used to be a plastic bag” slogan has two interpretations).
Chez Law, we have more of those reusable bags than we really need, but many are the products of trips to the store without our bags and our subsequent refusals to take disposable ones. I think we have five from Whole Foods and at least four from Trader Joes, although I will take any bag to any store. I always tell myself I’m going to leave one in my car, and sometimes I do, except that then I take it into the store, fill it, bring it inside to empty it, and never restore it to the back seat.
I do the same thing Keith. I don’t consider myself to be an environmentalist at all, but this is just something that makes a lot of sense to me.
My wife and I use the Trader Joe’s reusable bags wherever we shop for groceries and we are happy to do it. On the other hand, 30 second showers will never happen.
Keith, what do you think the current economic conditions portend for free agency and even the arbitration process this offseason?
Of course since I live in Europe we’re basically forced to use the reusable bags, as they charge for the plastic and paper variety. I used to mind it much more when I first moved over here, now I am more used to it. I have since moved from the tote variety of reusables to a rolling shopping bag, which is basically a 15 or 20 gallon canvas bag on a metal folding frame. It is really convenient, especially when the shop is within walking distance like mine.
I have 5 reusable bags, one larger tote from the Farmers’ Market, and an insulated bag from Trader Joes that all live in the back seat of my car. I still sometimes forget them when I go into the store!
I forgot to highlight the 30-second shower bit. I’m not sure how that’s possible … and I don’t even shave my legs.
alice – I’m the same way. I’ve even put my basket down or stopped my cart, returned to the car to get the bags, and come back in. At that point, it’s a matter of principle.
one thing that should be marketed about the reusable bags besides the environmental friendliness, is that THEY ARE BETTER BAGS IN GENERAL. Better capacity, better resistance. You can pack them with a decent amount of mass without the need to doublebag or the mortal fear of ripping them.
Keith, I don’t know if you take your daughter grocery shopping with you or not, but my wife usually brings one or both kids with her, and to remember the bags, she puts them on the floor in front of the car seat. She’ll never forget the kid(s), and so she never forgets the bags.
Anyone had any experience with these Debbie Meyer Green Bag things?
http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16
I bought some about a month ago and have had mixed results.
I used to have some discs that served the same purpose and they worked very well. Of course, you can get half the benefit or more by storing things properly – some foods, like apples and bananas, emit a lot of ethylene, while green leafy vegetables don’t emit much but soak the stuff up and wilt.
We have the exact same reusable bag habits. I’m betting we’re not the only ones.
I love my reusable bags (got a mess of them from Costco for a couple bucks). Along the same line, I found some fantastic reusable sandwhich wrappers, that unfold into placemats. Link here: http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/
I have four reusable bags that I forget to bring with me about 80% of the time. If I do remember to stash a couple in the car, I’ll go out and get them even if I’m already shopping.
With two large dogs, I’m not sure what I would do without those plastic bags. I use them to keep the neighborhood clean.
Keith my wife is the same way. She is always buying more bags because we forget to put them back in the car. I call he bag lady… what happened to paper bags? That is what my family always used and they doubled as garbage bags under the sink or book covers in MS and HS.