Actually, Fairway puts a paper bag inside a plastic bag, which makes for perfect subway carrying (they use really strong plastic bags). But one or the other, I’m going to go with Trader Joes paper bags. (I need the handle, because I usually walk or take public transportation to do grocery shopping; without the handle, it doesn’t work.)
reusable. but i sometimes leave them in the car to get the trader joe’s paper bags. they’re good for delivering meals to people and they’re perfect for draining bacon.
I always do the self-checkout unless I have my kids with me. They only offer plastic there. My wife opted out of the false dichotomy and got some of those burlap bags that you reuse. Guess how many times in practice we’ve used them?
Clark,
There’s a grocery store near us with self-checkout; with those, I scan the groceries and set them down on the sensor. Then I pay and stick them in my bags that I brought (first choice, but it wasn’t offered).
I tried to stick my bags on the sensors first one time, and the machine yelled at me that I already had weight on it, even though I hit the “Brought My Own Bags” button.
Sam, yeah I could do that. It’s just that when I’m going shopping it’s usually because we need something right then and I’m ill prepared and in a rush. So color me the lazy American.
Well, usually if I remember to actually bring them, it’s canvas bags, but otherwise, paper. All the grocery stores around here have nifty handles on the paper bags that are a lot more comfortable to hold than the plastic ones.
Papaer. Not that we actually use it (can it still be used?), but just cause I’m old school.
Anyone old enough to remember the pull tabs that were used to open soda cans? You pulled them off, then threw them on the ground, and the whole world was scattered with pull tabs.
We took the barely passable dirt rod from Avon, UT to Liberty UT a couple Saturdays back. At one point, we pulled over and hiked a few hundred yards up a hillside. When we reached the top, we had a lovely view of a little valley. I looked down at my feet, and there was this old soda can pull tab. Had to be at least 30 years old. ~
Comment by Thomas Parkin — August 12, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
I actually love finding garbage from long ago. We were hiking some years back and found the remnants of a logging camp from the 1940’s. Really interesting.
It has to be paper. Plastic bags dump out your groceries in the back of the car. The only thing I liked about living in Minneapolis was that I could get paper bags if I wanted them (I always did). Where I live now all the grocery stores (save Aldi) offer nothing but plastic. I work for a large retailer that has been selling “reusable” bags for two years now (we’ve sold something like 5M of them). The company has not seen a measurable shift in the use of the disposable plastic bags. It appears that a lot of people buy them but few actual use them.
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Actually, Fairway puts a paper bag inside a plastic bag, which makes for perfect subway carrying (they use really strong plastic bags). But one or the other, I’m going to go with Trader Joes paper bags. (I need the handle, because I usually walk or take public transportation to do grocery shopping; without the handle, it doesn’t work.)
Comment by Sam B. — August 11, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Reusable canvas when I can remember, otherwise, whatever the store has. (Usually plastic, unless I’m at Trader Joe’s, then it’s paper.)
Comment by Keri Brooks — August 11, 2009 @ 9:26 am
reusable. but i sometimes leave them in the car to get the trader joe’s paper bags. they’re good for delivering meals to people and they’re perfect for draining bacon.
Comment by makakona — August 11, 2009 @ 11:18 am
Neither. I use baggu. http://baggubag.com/
Comment by gabby — August 11, 2009 @ 11:27 am
We do the reusable ones, but if we forget, it’s plastic. They get re-used for cleaning the cat litter pans.
Comment by Brian V — August 11, 2009 @ 11:38 am
Plastic is great for current-consumer recycling. We do use them for trash can liners, packing material, the usual carrying stuff.
We used to use them for Littermaid receptacles, too.
Paper bags will keep the cats entertained for a little while. =)
Is it just me, or do the Baggus look like tank tops?
Comment by FHL — August 11, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Hmmmm….I’m thinking it’s just you!
Comment by gabby — August 11, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
I always do the self-checkout unless I have my kids with me. They only offer plastic there. My wife opted out of the false dichotomy and got some of those burlap bags that you reuse. Guess how many times in practice we’ve used them?
Comment by Clark — August 11, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
Clark,
There’s a grocery store near us with self-checkout; with those, I scan the groceries and set them down on the sensor. Then I pay and stick them in my bags that I brought (first choice, but it wasn’t offered).
I tried to stick my bags on the sensors first one time, and the machine yelled at me that I already had weight on it, even though I hit the “Brought My Own Bags” button.
Comment by Sam B. — August 11, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
. . . because I usually walk or take public transportation to do grocery shopping . . .
Shudder. I think I’ve got it bad having to tote the groceries all the way from my car to my third floor apartment. I would never survive in NYC.
Comment by Tom — August 11, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
Sam, yeah I could do that. It’s just that when I’m going shopping it’s usually because we need something right then and I’m ill prepared and in a rush. So color me the lazy American.
Comment by Clark — August 11, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Well, usually if I remember to actually bring them, it’s canvas bags, but otherwise, paper. All the grocery stores around here have nifty handles on the paper bags that are a lot more comfortable to hold than the plastic ones.
Comment by meems — August 11, 2009 @ 11:07 pm
We have at least a dozen paper bags in the back of our motor vehicle, to be used when we buy groceries ($0.20 off per bag at some stores).
We forget to bring in the bags almost every single time. It’s hilarious.
Comment by Ben Pratt — August 12, 2009 @ 12:20 am
Papaer. Not that we actually use it (can it still be used?), but just cause I’m old school.
Anyone old enough to remember the pull tabs that were used to open soda cans? You pulled them off, then threw them on the ground, and the whole world was scattered with pull tabs.
We took the barely passable dirt rod from Avon, UT to Liberty UT a couple Saturdays back. At one point, we pulled over and hiked a few hundred yards up a hillside. When we reached the top, we had a lovely view of a little valley. I looked down at my feet, and there was this old soda can pull tab. Had to be at least 30 years old. ~
Comment by Thomas Parkin — August 12, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
I actually love finding garbage from long ago. We were hiking some years back and found the remnants of a logging camp from the 1940’s. Really interesting.
Comment by Clark — August 12, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
It has to be paper. Plastic bags dump out your groceries in the back of the car. The only thing I liked about living in Minneapolis was that I could get paper bags if I wanted them (I always did). Where I live now all the grocery stores (save Aldi) offer nothing but plastic. I work for a large retailer that has been selling “reusable” bags for two years now (we’ve sold something like 5M of them). The company has not seen a measurable shift in the use of the disposable plastic bags. It appears that a lot of people buy them but few actual use them.
Comment by Paul M — August 17, 2009 @ 1:09 am