Now I'll like shopping even less. Or: Screw you, environment (RL)

[thistlechaser]

For those not in this area: California is attempting to ban plastic shopping bags. In every town the ban has come up, it has been legally challenged and thus cannot go forward. There's been only one single town that has not challenged it: The town I live in.

6/20 is when the ban begins, less than ten days from now. I went shopping yesterday, thinking I had time left, but they were already out of plastic bags and weren't going to order more.

"So Thistle, use paper bags!"

I did. Right now, until 6/20, they're free. After the 20th they'll be charging for them. You will get no bag of any kind for free when shopping anywhere in my hometown.

SIGH.

By the way, have you used paper bags lately? They suck. S-U-C-K. It's hard to carry more than one or two at once, and worse than that they rip easily. All my groceries ended up all over the sidewalk multiple times.

Not only is there the pain of, you know, not having a bag to hold all the stuff you buy, but there's the fact that I need those plastic bags. I clean the catbox into them. (I also used them for my general garbage, but now I've stopped that. I actually have to save up the plastic bags I have left...)

I'm usually all for the environment, but in this case I have to disagree. Yes, I know they make reusable bags for shopping, but they're dirtier, a pain, and as I said, I use the plastic bags for other things as well.

Grumble...

Comments

[thevressclan.livejournal.com]

My father actually used to work for a grocery store in Florida that didn't give plastic bags out for free. What the store did was put the boxes they didn't need in the front of the store, on the door-side of the registers, and allow customers to use them for free. They were sturdier than paper or plastic and only slightly more inconvenient to load in a car.

[halogin.livejournal.com]

I use plastic bags for stuff too, but I've gotten used to paying at most grocery stores for the bags, 5 cents a pop. We usually bring our reusable bags, though, and I really love mine. Not sure what kind are offered where you are; I know the Kroger in Tennessee offered kinda chintzy-feeling ones that I didn't like, whereas in the late 90s we had fabric ones from Bi-Lo and a couple of 'healthy food' stores that were sturdy cotton. The ones we have here in Ontario are sturdy plastic that feels kind of 'woven' in a way, with sturdy fabric handles. Easily wiped out if necessary, and they fold up really neatly.

I'm with you on paperbag hate-- those are really the least convenient things ever to carry, when it comes to grocery shopping.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh that's handy, plus you could save them up for when you need to move.

[halogin.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I like that the bags we got from Metro to re-use have two sets of handles-- one short for carrying by hand, and one longer for slinging over the shoulder. Makes things SO much easier. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind so much paying five cents per bag (I wouldn't like it, but I'd do it). But ours are just banned outright, no option for buying them. :/

I just bought a set off Amazon, plus I have some I've been given over the past couple years (and a couple from Alaska!). If this ban lasts, I suppose I'll get used to it, but I'm not happy.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That sounds nice! All the ones I have are short handle ones. Not a big deal though, just needs to go from the cart to the trunk, then a short trip from trunk into my apartment.

[evilgrayson.livejournal.com]

Shopping bags come in 'biodegradable' over here. We've often wondered why TV and Hollywood keep showing us paper bags as Just Better - they aren't, and we know it.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I don't know why we don't have those, too! Plastic bags don't need to last forever, biodegradable would be a perfect solution. Arg.

[thevressclan.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's what we did. :D They're also useful for packing things in attics or closets. >_> Not that I have closets and an attic full of boxes or anything *cough*

(Moving company boxes are perhaps the worst thing ever. I threw those away first when I moved because they're only sturdy enough to hold pillows. Chick-fil-a fry boxes, on the other hand, could hold bricks and stay solid.)

[halogin.livejournal.com]

Well, if you ever want one like what I use (just to try it if nothing else), and are able/don't mind sharing a mailing address, I'd be happy to nab one and send it your way. X) They're just $1 or $2, so it's not bank-breaking, and light enough that mailing's no big either.

[loup_noir]

I live in uber lefty land. We've been expected to bring our own bags for years. Overall, I'm fine with that. Gives me a reason to stock up on fun canvas totes. The canvas bags don't do that awful shred thing when you're walking, they hold more, and they fold up nice and flat to sit in your car until they're needed. Plus, all those thin plastic bags are a huge environmental problem. My guy has done a lot of hydrological work on landfills, and the pet name for plastic bags is "jellyfish." The jellyfish go flying through the air to tangle everywhere, including zipping out into the ocean where silly fish think they're food and eat them. Not much fun for the fish.

[peppygrowlithe.livejournal.com]

Why are reusable bags 'dirtier' and 'a pain'? I don't feel that way at all! They hold more items, they're stronger (and better for the environment) than both plastic and paper bags, and the only catch is that you have to remember to bring them along with you. I have one with a wolf and one with a bear, and I think they make shopping more enjoyable! What's more, most of the grocery stores up here even give you five cents off per bag - not really enough to add up even over a long period of time, but enough to give you a small incentive to do what is basically the right thing to do in the first place.

Washington is also getting rid of plastic bags by the end of the year, but I'm completely for it - and I say this as a person who doesn't have a car and has to carry stuff home about half a mile in my hands. I also use plastic bags for the litterbox, but garbage bags and paper bags can still be used for the same purposes.

Betcha you could get a couple cool bags with designs you like on them if you look!

[peppygrowlithe.livejournal.com]

I should probably have looked at the other comments before I posted mine, as this is all basically covered in many fewer words already. X)

[isyris.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a silly suggestion, but have you thought about getting one of those -massive- IKEA bags? They're super sturdy (I use one for laundry), and I bet you could fit a lot of groceries in one if you wanted to take everything in one trip.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

I use the reusable canvas bags for about 95% of my stuff, but I would hate not having the option for plastic bags. I always pack the meat in plastic, for example, because the packages leak and I don't want that stuff in my reusable bags. And then I just re-use the plastic bags for the scooping the cat litter or to collect recyclables in.

...which is more than you needed to know, I'm sure, but just trying to say I empathize.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Arg, I didn't even think about meat drippings. D:

I'm really, really hoping people will be so up in arms about this that it will be voted out (I don't think it was ever voted in...).

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have one already! I was so angry when they wouldn't give me a bag when I shopped there, I vowed to never go back. I spent $500 and they couldn't give me a bag for the little things?!

I've been raging about this issue for years now. Clearly I fail at picking my battles. :P

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but who wants to wash their shopping bags? :/

I've been trying to figure out if it'd be easier to use my own bags or to go to the next town. I'm strongly leaning towards next town (like you said, it can't be that far!), I just have to google to see the location-options.

Good idea for litter bags!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I like your bags! I bought some today, but they're just basic colors.

Why are reusable bags 'dirtier' and 'a pain'?

The local newscasts have been doing stories on the bags. Unless you wash them with bleach every time you use them, they have more germs than plastic bags (and it increases every time you use them without washing it). I'm lazy, I know I won't be washing my bags. :/

I should probably have looked at the other comments before I posted mine, as this is all basically covered in many fewer words already. X)

Ha ha no problem! I'm always happy when you comment. :) <3

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the canvas bags will grow on me. I hadn't thought about them being stronger, that'll be nice...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think I have enough right now, but if I need more I'll poke you. <3

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I really need to collect some boxes so I can pack old clothing away and make room in my closet... /ideas!

[senticous-lj.livejournal.com]

I heard about this when I was in San Francico early in the year. I don't remember if the supermarkets over there sell them, but can't you try to buy one of those environment friendly bag things that you can use permanently? I.e. Publix has these over here http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/divas/sites/tampabay.com.blogs.divas/files/images/typepad-legacy-files/45097.shared.publix_2.jpg, not sure if Safeway has something similar.

[tersa.livejournal.com]

No one, but you're the one with the 'dirty' issues. ;) And it is better than having plastic bags filling up the landfill.

(Or, some stores sell laminated ones which may be able to be wiped down when they're looking grimy. Or canvas, which could be thrown in with your laundry.

But, really? Dirty? :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I have to do. I've bought a couple, but I think I still need more. :/