I've always had an issue with the mounds and mounds of plastic bags I end up with after bringing home a load of new groceries. It seems like such a waste, and I hate seeing them strewn along the side of roads. Fortunately, our local IKEA has a donation box where they collect these pesky plastic bags and recycle them. I've been collecting my own mound of suffocation-risk bags and planning to drop them off next time I'm there.
But, I think I'm done collecting the bags. I've decided to jump on the re-usable cloth bag bandwagon. I'm a little surprised at myself. You see, I'm not an Al Gore groupie and I still drive a gass-guzzling SUV. But, this issue just seems to make sense.
However, I'm a little peeved about one thing. I don't want to actually buy the bags. I know I have no choice, and I will buy them, but I don't want to. Since the neighborhood grocery stores currently pick up the tab for the millions of plastic bags we use to carry away our grub, shouldn't there be some kind of kickback to those not costing them money? I mean, I want some actual "green" for being green. I propose a discount to those not taking the free plastic bags. If the grocery giants didn't have to buy the plastic bags, they would be making more of a profit. Do you really think they don't build in the cost of their supplies to the prices you see on your receipts? I shouldn't have to pay for the bags everyone else is taking and tossing. Or, I have another option for the Waltons and their less wealthy counterparts. Give the bags away for free. For one month, each shopper can pick up 10 bags per shopping trip. After that month, the plastic bags and free re-usable bags are gone. It sounds reasonable to me. We're working together to be sensible, right?
6 comments:
This is Joe Miracle
Awesome blog Steph. What's y'all's new address? Send it to me via my hotmail account. After things settle down, I think I'm going to show this to Sarah and see if she has the energy to start one up.
I think she would. We'll have tons of baby photos, I'm sure.
Hey Stephanie,
I'm laughing because that was me a couple of months ago...at least the part about not giving in to the whole "green thing" with the shopping bags. But I did and I honestly LOVE THEM!!! They are so much more handy and sturdy than the plastic ones, and I leave with 4-5 full cloth bags instead of 15 plastic ones. They're just smart. Of course, half the time I forget to take them into the store with me! :) Hope all is well. Your family is too precious!! What town are you living in now?
Rachel
Hey Rach! I hope you don't mind that I'm pimping out your blog and site on my links.
Thanks for the encouragement to get the bags. Where did you get yours? I'm trying to find a site to order them from, but I may end up with the Wal-Mart ones. I hesitate to go into Randall's with Wal-Mart bags so I'd preder generic bags, but like Wal-Mart's 99 cents price. I'm giving myself until the end of the week to get it done.
We're in Round Rock, as of last month. It's nice to be back in the motherland. If y'all are ever in Austin, let us know and we can meet up.
Yeah, I'm just not willing to pay for nor do I have the memory to remember to carry them in. Plus, that's just one more thing I need to keep track of, kids, diaperbag, purse, sippy cups....bags. No thanks. My grocery store only uses paper though so I don't feel so bad! I just donate my plastic ones to the daycare and the baby classes use them for diapers and dirty clothes. There....I'm giving back, Huh?
Seriously, I do like the bags, I just know I would NEVER remember them or even have them in the same car I was in.
Haha - that sounds exactly like me a few months ago. I found generic bags at the bread outlet store, and I've been using those. LOVE THEM! Bi-Lo actually gives me a 5 cent credit for each bag I use. At least then I can say they'll pay for themselves...eventually! I took a walk this morning and looked at everyone's recyclables on the street, and I'm thinking about doing that, too. Who knew?!?!?
Wow! Stephanie going green!! Austin must be invading your brain! :-) Keepin' it wierd! :-) I have several bags that I have purchased. I keep buying them b/c I keep leaving the ones I've all ready bought at home! I think I have 6! I have forced myself not to purchase any more. If I'm not responsible enough to actually remember to bring them into the store, I'm not responsible enough to own them. :-) Plus, what else am I going to put poopy diapers in?! (Poor landfill!)
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