Deseret News | Just bag it: Most grocery stores say reusable totes are the best bet

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Just bag it: Most grocery stores say reusable totes are the best bet

Greenie | 12:06 a.m. April 22, 2009

Plastic bags are a petroleum product, so having reusable totes or boxes means needing less oil.

A lot of these bags end up in the ocean, harming birds and other wildlife. I recently saw a photo of sick dolphins who had swallowed the plastic bags.

Let's keep these plastic bags out of the environment.

Heather | 9:18 a.m. April 22, 2009

The re-useable bags that some stores are selling are made of plastic as well.

When will people quit using plastic altogether and use something that is truly biodegradable and sturdy, such as organic cotton or burlap?

SLC gal | 9:39 a.m. April 22, 2009

The reusable bags are much better for my environment. I feel guilty throwning them away, when I know I could recycle them by just taking them back to the store and throwing it in the recycle bin there, but in the meantime, they make a mess.

Furthermore, they are so much sturdier. Anyone who's ever had a handle bust on them are smiling becuase they know what I'm talking about...

Comments continue below

K | 9:40 a.m. April 22, 2009

Heather, I think it's because organic cotton or burlap are way more expensive. The true greenies DO use them...Hopefully someday, the rest of us will become more aware.

I still think that using the re-usable ones does help, even a little is a good thing.

(Sometimes I feel like we're "darned if we do, and darned if we don't", though. Especially after the comments in this article.)

Watch What You Buy | 11:59 a.m. April 22, 2009

The items you purchase have a much grater effect on the environment than the container you use to carry the items home in. To protect the environment avoid buying needless stuff; most people already have more than they really need.

Not making a difference | 6:43 p.m. April 22, 2009

To all of you who faithfully take your "green" bags to the grocery store, I say: keep it up!!

You are making absoulutely no difference, but at least you can feel good about yourself

Where's the food | 10:03 p.m. April 22, 2009

Um, I thought the food section was supposed to be about.....food, not grocery bags. Dummy me.

Hate the plastic mountain | 9:21 a.m. April 23, 2009

I bought some of Harmon's brightly colored re-usable bags and love them. Very sturdy and hold lots more items. I was hating the mountain of plastic bags growing in my pantry closet each week. Plus every time I use a re-usable bag at Harmon's or Smiths, I get cents off my purchase. The bags have paid for themselves in about 4 months and are still going strong.

Michelle | 4:24 p.m. April 23, 2009

I notice Walmart is one of the worst with plastic bags. They will only put a few items in one bag so at the end of your shopping venture you're walking out with sometimes 10 plastic bags and all SOOO light. When it could've been condensed into half of that or less. Now, I love having the re-usable bags, they hold a lot of items and don't break like the plastic. I really think Walmart needs to get into the groove with the rest of the grocery stores. Let's keep our environment clean.

Michelle | 4:26 p.m. April 23, 2009

I also believe stores should really start charging for plastic bags. IKEA does - WAY to go IKEA !!!

Goin'Green | 9:49 a.m. April 24, 2009

My family takes our green bags everywhere! We have like 20 of them for our big shopping trips that can be so hazardous if the handle's break...(yes SLC Gal, I know what you are talking about.

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