Plastic Bags- Page 2

[etoile]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:31am

I prefer plastic bags when I buy certain items, since I always seem to buy the one milk container with a leaky top. A paper bag would rip and a cloth would need to be laundered thus wasting water. I want plastic bags when I buy cleaning and laundry items to lessen a chance of contaminating the food items. Since I always find a way to recycle bags, whether as trash bags or containers for donations to charitable bins I don't feel guilty using them. When I have more bags than I can use I take them a local non-profit on "market day" so they can reuse them.

Hate paper bags on a rainy/snowy day. Hate them. Nothing like having that wet ink print bleeding onto a light colored clothing item as the page disintegrates into pieces.

Updated On: 2/22/08 at 01:31 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:54am

I usually recycle plastic bags. Occasionally I ask for them not to use any bags, when it's at a store where I can bring the cart straight up to the car, or I'm only getting a few items that I can carry in hand. Usually they look at me like I've lost my mind, say "WHAAA?" and I have to repeat myself a few times, but whatever.

What bothers me is when stores double-line paper bags with plastic. Or double-line plastic bags with another plastic bag. Or the worst- putting ONE ITEM PER BAG. Ugh. Yes you can recycle them, but that kind of behavior is just overtly wasteful.

[etoile]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 2:15am

And I only use those thin plastic produce bags when buying something like grapes or wet leaf lettuce. And if using those produce bags I never use a twist tie. I think they're a waste and just close the bag with a knot. I don't need the bags for an onion, two green peppers, two bananas, or three oranges. The produce doesn't get any less bruised being in one of those bags.

Now can we talk about how much paper is wasted on the grocery receipts? I don't need to be told how much I've saved with this weeks specials, my frequent shopper savings, the website for your survey, the home team sport schedule, info on upcoming video releases, and coupons for items I'll never purchase. Just tell me what I was charged for my four items without over two feet of paper.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 4:13pm

I wish they gave you the option for receipts much of the time. When I'm buying one bagel and paying cash, I don't want or need one at all, let alone all the coupon crap you mentioned. You get receipts EVERYWHERE now. I remember my dad had to make point of asking for one at fast food restaurants (which embarrassed us all the time, but he's anal about money). Now even McDonalds has to include one on every tray. I don't need a written record of my french fry craving, thanks. I understand some people need receipts, but the vast majority of people probably don't care. They would save thousands of trees if they just printed them out for the people that asked.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 6:34pm

How about the waste @ Mac Donalds?

They package stuff in such unnecesary packaging that it boggles the mind.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 6:44pm

"The produce doesn't get any less bruised being in one of those bags."

Agreed, but I think if you're buying more than one apple or onion, etc. it helps the cashier if they're all in one bag when weighing them and also in bagging them. I can understand that so I do put several of one kind of produce in a thin plastic bag.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 7:21pm

It was good reading peoples' response to this apropos topic.

Trees may be cut down to make paper, but there are already trees regrown to take their place. Keep in mind that paper is easiest to recycle, and a lot of bags are made out of recycled paper (some 100% post-consumer recycled paper). People don't realize that it costs more to recycle plastic. Not even half of what's thrown into the recycling bin is going to be recycled, so cutting down on all plastics (bags, bottles) would be best.

Recycling plastic bags isn't an option for many many cities, definitely NOT in NYC, because there are too many and costs too much to recycle. The main reason people get so many bags and throw things out without hesitation is ignorance. People don't realize what an effect each person has on the environment..and the garbage bin is so easily accessible.

Have you seen double-bagging for a 4-pack of toilet paper? Drives me nuts. I can probably count on both hands how many plastic bags I've used/reused in the past year, and I am pretty proud of myself.

I think it's reputable for cities such as SF to make 'being green' easy for their people; taking initiative of eliminating peoples' use of plastic bags, good recycling programs, etc..I've also never seen styro-foam used in San Francisco restaurants (not sure about Jamba Juice & Dunkin Donuts). It's really up to the higher power to control what kind of waste is being put out, and to keep people aware.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 9:06pm

Styrofoam was outlawed a while ago, now it's just plastic boxes (again, it's a one evil for another sort of thing). Jamba Juice used paper cups now, the kind that are like, waxed on the inside.

In my experience, baggers will only double bag something if they're asked to do so. Otherwise why would they waste the extra energy it takes to double bag? And safeway and whole foods now have biodegradable produce bags that are made out of potato starch.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 9:53pm

We have a mayor that supposedly cares about the environment, but there are so many obvious things that can be done, and has not been done. They took trans fats out of NYC restaurants, why the hell not styrofoam? I did a little research (Wikipediaed that ish) and polystyrene has been banned in just over 20 cities in the US. Why not thousands is beyond me.

The bag-ladies in NY double-bag everything, it's like its their pride and joy. Local supermarkets will not bother with biodegradable potato/corn starch bags/containers because it's an extra expense for them. There aren't many big chain supermarkets in NY that can afford the extra expense in a step towards a better environment. Whole Foods is wonderful though.

When I was visiting San Francisco, I've seen those square food containers with the compartments (for burgers + fries) that are normally made from styrofoam, made out of cardboard. The Safeway in SOMA is supposedly wind-energy powered.

San Francisco is one of my favorite places in the world. I have such peace of mind when I'm in San Francisco. Two summers ago, I was there for a month, and last December, I was there for a week. I'm pretty familiar with the city. I have more friends there than I do in NY. I would move there but I can't find it in myself to leave this damn city.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 10:50pm

In my experience, baggers will only double bag something if they're asked to do so. Otherwise why would they waste the extra energy it takes to double bag?

I don't know, ask the woman at Target tonight. I had to ask her to put my 5 (small) items in one bag and stop her from double-bagging.

[morosco]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 10:57pm

IKEA has a goal of completely eliminating plastic bags. For now if you want a plastic bag you have to pay for it. As an alternative they offer a reuseable tote bag for only 99 cents. The totes are extremely durable and they are great to have around when doing laundry.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 11:20pm

Updated On: 1/27/09 at 11:20 PM

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 11:32pm

I think IKEA 'shows' environmental concerns to benefit themselves as opposed to benefiting the environment (i.e. tax breaks). IKEA contributes a great deal to the deterioration of our environment. Everything is mass produced, in factories all over the world, then shipped thousands of miles.

They produce as many of those blue bags as they do their regular plastic bags. That can't be good.

However, I do appreciate what they're doing, even if it may be a part of their scheme to get more money. They have these recycling boxes for paper/plastic/batteries. They now charge 5 cents a plastic bag, so some people will walk out without a bag at all. Back in the day, people will take as many bags they can get their hands on. If only some people don't buy these bags every time they visit IKEA because they think they're getting such a great deal out of them (59 cents each), they'll end up with an abundance of these blue bags, and it'll be worse than throwing out the regular bags.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 11:38pm

I LOVE SELF-CHECKOUTS! They are nonexistent in New York though. We get the mean cashiers with the lousy attitudes instead. Who else other than New Yorkers can say that! Beat that!

okay I'm getting a little nutty on this board.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 1:42pm

Plastic bags are ridiculous. You're given a plastic bag for EVERYTHING! If you buy one item at a corner store...you get a bag! I have switched to the canvas, but I sometimes forget to bring it with me which is cumbersome.

[Mythus]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 2:02pm

I went to Target the other day to get some stuff for my apartment and realized I'd left my reusable bags hanging next to my door. I had to stop by Market Basket afterwards, so I grabbed one of the reusable bags that Target sells. When I got to the checkout, I unloaded all the stuff from the bag and then put the bag at the front of the conveyor belt, assuming that the cashier would understand that I wanted the items behind it to be put inside.

He scanned the bag and went to put it in a plastic bag.

Me: Could you put the stuff in that bag, please?
Him: ...What?
Me: Could you please put the stuff in that bag, instead of a plastic one?
Him: ...This bag?
Me: ...Yes.

I was astounded.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/24/08 at 3:20pm

i demand that each item get it's own plastic bag and they they be triple bagged. i don't like leaving the grocery store with less than 75-90 bags. then after i empty them i take them and all my empty six-pack rings out to see and dump them one by one into dolphin habitats.