Finally our local supermarket is going to start charging 5 cents each for plastic bags. It is about time. But, I suppose, better late than never. Hopefully people will realise that it is better to spend a couple of dollars on a resuseable shopping bag; just as long as you can wash it with bleach. Jim.
I can't say I'll miss the plastic bags from the SuperStore as they were to flimsy to reuse for garbage anyhow. I've been using my own cloth bags there for quite awhile. The real test will come when I ask to have leaky meats packages put in plastic so that they don't contaminate my bags. If they insist on charging for them I'll protest on principle! :) Proper packing should be their responsibility!
I absolutely love them. I've been using the large ones from Sobey's for several years now. I have six of them that I keep in the trunk of the car, and use them for everything under the sun. I've even hauled rocks home for my garden in them. Most grocery stores are selling them for $1 each.
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The handle on one of the first ones I got let go, but it was replaced free of charge. I've had some people tell me they are 'too heavy', but that is only if you left the grocery clerk overload them
We are finally catching up with Europe in this regard.
They can pay their 5 cents, and then they have a bag to use to dispose of their waste. Or they can buy the bags that are designed to be used as garbage bags. In this life we dont get something for nothing. Not all the plastic bags used by supermarkets were recycled. So if it costs a little more to dispose of garbage, this is a small price to pay for having less plastic going into refill sites. Jim
The shop fills your bag for you? That's an occasional fund-raising "special event" for a specific charity (which provides the labour to fill your bag) at supermarkets over here; otherwise it's just cram it all in as best as you can. However, one of our local shops ceased to provide plastic bags and gave each customer a canvas bag to use (only possible because we are a very small island where each customer is known as an individual to the shop keeper)
For years i have sewn cloth bags from old skirts , I sewed cloth bags from all kinds of cloth left over from sewing for Bazzaars. the last year i give cloth bags in several sizes , For birthday presents . Smaller ones with a cord [ for closing ] for smaller amounts of food , and bigger ones as carriers ,,,,, mirjam
If it's a convenience issue, plastic bags of the type used by most stores can be bought at Staples or other paper good stores for fairly cheap. I bought a box for a large yard sale at one point - it really wasn't that much and it was nice to have the bags corralled in a box after that (it's about the size of a single package of printer paper).
Mavia, I think you are Canadian. I buy milk by the 4 litres, and the outer bags are wonderful as freezer bags. I can wash them, and reuse them. Couldn't you use some of these to put yor meat in? jim.
And how will paying for the bags save landfill sites? Whether they are free, or whether they are paid for, they will still wind up holding trash or garbage and wind up as landfill.
Do you have a better way of disposing of trash and/or garbage? I'm willing to learn.
I don't know where people get the idea that plastic bags have been free. The cost of the bags is factored into the cost of the groceries, along with all the other overheads. To charge 5c, or whatever, for bags is just another ripoff. If you want to use your own bags, you should demand that the cost of the plastic bags be subtracted from the cost of the cost of the groceries. Yes I know that's not going to happen, but the supermarkets should be confronted with this outrageous grab for extra profits.
I've carried a reusable bag in my car for ages and use it when I stop at a farm stand, or go to the greenmarket, or shop in our local thrift shop, mostly for my own convenience. I find they are either heavy and make the parcels harder to schlep, or they are too light and don't hold up with heavier groceries. Then there's the fact that having to toss them into the washer wastes water, which here in Fl isn't a great idea because our water is wildly expensive, and we're often in a drought and asked to conserve in any way we can. They even went so far last year as asking us not to flush every time.
This subject has been debated over and over and so far I haven't read anything that convinced me either way.
My Publix Supermarket does keep a trash can designated for returned plastic bags which makes me think they do recycle them.
Easy to answer. There are lots of people who, when they get home, simply through the plastic bags into the garbage. When these people find they have to pay 5 cents each for the bags, they will cease to use them, and will use canvas bags. This will save a lot of plastic simply being used once, and then being thrown into the garbage. It is interesting about the store paying you when you take in your own bag. About 5 years ago, I was talking to the store manager, when the store paid 3 cents per bag. The most they ever gave back in one month was
60 dollars; an almost significant amount. I think there is a difference in getting back 3 cents if you take your own bag, and being charged 5 cents per bag if you dont. Jim.
You didn't answer my question. If you throw a plastic bag into the garbage it will wind up as landfill. If I put the garbage into a specially packaged plastic garbage bag, I will be throwing out a plastic garbage bag and plastic grocery bags both of which will land up as landfill.
Where do you suggest garbage should be kept until it's picked up by our sanitation department?
What's the difference if garbage is tossed out in a new plastic bag that was bought and paid for or it's tossed in recycled grocery bag as far as the environment is concerned?
It's still in plastic and so far no one has given me a better alternative.
I don't buy milk in that large quantity. I do remember to use my canvas bags but having to also carry your own plastic bags to protect them from leaky packaging is a bit much.
I thought of that when Stupidstore said they would charge 5 cents per plastic bag. Back in the 1980s another store here, Sobeys, were giving a discount of 5 cents for NOT using plastic. That's when I first amassed a quantity of fabric bags.
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