Monday, July 21

Paper or Plastic

This is a question I don't get asked at the grocery store any more. I can't remember the last time I saw paper bags as a choice. What I am seeing now is tote bags with the grocery store logo printed on the bag. Of course these totes are for sale.

Yesterday I did my weekly grocery shopping. I usually don't do this on Sunday, but since hubby's family will be coming in Tuesday I wanted to have enough supplies on hand to start preparing some of the food.

I've been seeing the store's tote bags for several weeks, but never saw anyone using them in the check out isle until yesterday. I guess the stores are gently offering their customer's tote bags for environmental reason. What I don't understand is why the stores are not going back to paper bags which would be a better choice over plastic.

My years of working gave me many many tote bags. Every conference gave their participants a tote to carry the agenda and handouts for the conference. I kept many of these bags and used them as a briefcase at work. I thought I would dig out these bags and start using them for my grocery shopping. I had all these bags stuffed into one bag. I have yet another bag full of these totes.

As I've written before, I have a hard time remembering my cell phone when I leave the house. I guess I'll have to put another note on the garage door saying "tote bags" in order to remember to take these with me grocery shopping.



Do you use tote bags for your grocery shopping?



8 comments:

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

Nope but you know that is a great job. I should get my tote bags together and do the same thing. Now to remember to take them. You know you could put them in the trunk or the backseat of your car after you get them emptied..that way you have them for the next time. I saw at Walmart yesterday that they have black ones that they are selling for $1.00. I have not seen paper sacks for a long long time either. Hm!!
Sandy

Susie said...

They still offer plastic or paper here, but every store also has the totes for sale. (usually about $1)
I have a few, but they never make their way back to the van after I bring them inside.

Nonnas News said...

No I dont use tote bags for my grocery shopping,but I should. Central Market is the only store I know of that asks if you want paper or plastic and that is just a place I frequent once or twice a year. I do recycle my plastic bags and use them for liners on my small trash cans.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Linda,

Doing a little visiting while everyone is asleep still.

We only have the plastic bags around here. I reuse them, though, but tote bags would be great.

Good question.

Have a good week!

Renie

Anonymous said...

I am just like you if I dont write it down its not going to happen.We always have so much on our minds.
I worked in a grocery store for 20 years as a front end /cash manager and we had paper bags when I first started but no one would ask for them, then we went plastic,I am retired now ,if I could remember to bring the darn totes I would like to use them.
Diane

Lazy Daisy said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who forgets to remember. I keep tote bags in the car and still forget to bring them in. Stop by and check out my Philadelphia pictures.

Gill said...

I don't know what the situation is in the US, but here in SA we have to pay for our plastic bags, so lots of people have now changed to the tote bags which are for sale in the shops. I try really hard to remember to take mine, but often forget and then have to buy the plastic ones, I re-use them though, so I don't feel too guilty.

Tina Coruth said...

My daughter does most of our grocery shopping. She switched to tote bags quite a while ago. She keeps them in the car so she won't forget them!