In Ireland plastic shopping bags are virtually unused. When a 33 cent per bag tax was imposed a few years ago their use dropped 94% almost overnight, and now they are rarely seen.
Why can't we do this?
As long as ten years ago the grocery store where I shopped in Vermont offered a rebate if you brought your own bags. You could bring back plastic bags, or paper, but the rebate (five cents per bag) was larger if you used cloth. And I did.
When I moved to the city I took my cloth bags with me but using them meant planning ahead. I was pretty good about taking them to do "big shopping" but less good about remembering to take a bag when I went somewhere "just in case."
When I moved here, where every single aspect of recycling is more difficult (no pick up, no bins in public places, etc.) the cashiers and baggers looked in askance when I brought my bags, but honestly, getting 10-12 plastic bags (because that's how they bag things) is just annoying. The last year or so the local grocery stores have become better about reusable bags. But I don't think they are fully on board.
I know Ianqui and others have been advocating this for while. I think this is an idea whose time has come. If it takes a tax on bags, so be it. What are we waiting for?
8 comments:
I have a bunch of reusable bags and have the dickens of a time remembering to get into the store with them! You bet if they charged for bags it'd be easier...
off to post a note on my dashboard: "shopping bags!"
my cryptic notes are everywhere...
I'm on board! My mom has been bringing her own bags forever, but I was for a while embarrassed. And thereafter lazy, plus I didn't have the bags handy.
This year, first grocery trip, there was a display of bags for sale, 99 cents each. I bought 3. I've been keeping them in the car and the only plastic bags I've brought inside this year have been from other stores (I forgot when I went to the drugstore, but next time I will remember).
It just makes sense. The number of plastic bags floating around is ridiculous, as are the bagging practices.
The main grocery store here (and several of the drugstores) sell inexpensive but sturdy cloth bags, just the right size. And people are starting to use them.
It makes complete sense for stores to advocate the use of the cloth bags since it saves the store money. I just can't believe it took so long ....
They got rid of plastic bags in San Fran awhile ago. I think China is thinking about doing the same thing. It makes sense. The only thing those plastic bags are good for the second time around is cat poop. :)
Seems like a great idea to me.
In addition...people (both men and women, though maybe more often women) carry big enough purses or computer bags to fold little tiny cloth bags into a corner somewhere. I have a cloth bag in my computer bag, my regular purse, and my camera bag. That way, when I want to pick something up, I always have a bag. And I don't have a car. If I had a car, I'd always keep it stocked with even more bags. All you have to learn to do is return them to your car after you unload the groceries.
Sheesh Ianqui, I don't know how you get anything extra in your camera bag! (I think I bought the same one you have).
But your point is well taken. And I'm trying to train myself to never leave the house without one.
In Germany they also charged for bags and I was shocked when I got to the front and they told me this. I made sure to stuff as much as I could underneath the stroller, but you can bet that if I lived there, I'd be bringing my own bags.
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