Yes, I am guilty of still using the stores plastic bags. Feeling very guilty about it today. I hope they are banned in the US soon.

all over the world. When I lived in Portland ME they were already onto the cloth bag thing. Recently Santa Fe NM totally banned the use of plastic bags. That might be what has to be done

Since Kauai outlawed plastic bags some years ago, I have several thin but durable fabric bags. 3 of them easily fit in my purse or daybag, and I always have some with me in my car, in case I make a shopping stop on my way home from somewhere. It's an easy habit to get into.

As for the thin plastic bags for produce, I do use and bring them home from the grocery store, and that's what I re-use for my little bit of kitchen garbage, rather than purchasing larger garbage bags. Living in the tropics, we have to take out our kitchen garbage daily, to avoid indoor pests.

I believe I leave a smaller plastic footprint than some, but there's always room for improvement and better habits to get into, as time goes on.

THANKS FOR THIS! You can also wash out plastic bags and keep a bunch in your car, although canvas is most durable.

Thanks for this post. Also many groceries have bulk sections now. You can take your permanent containers(I favor jars) fill them at the store and cut down on packaging waste.

The solution for produce is to use reusable mesh bags. Make them yourself or check out "Trash is for Tossers" which is one young lady's mission to minimize waste.

I am loading up reusable bags in the car now, our large hardware chain has not used bags for many years, you do have the option to bring your own, or use a cardboard box they have piled at the exit from their deliveries. Our supermarkets in my area stop plastic bags in the 20th of this month - forever. We have a project, "Boomerang Bags" made from donated items and sewn by volunteers.
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I use heavy duty canvas bags from LL Bean but I also want plastic occasionally
as I use them for trash and garbage bags

Charge for plastic bags...[bbc.com]

I use canvas bags. Prior to that I always asked for paper bags at checkout.

I use both because I do reuse plastic bags all the time

Definitely -have cloth bags from Trader Joe's-have to find it.

I absolutely hate plastic bags. When I lived in the city the majority of shoppers brought their own reusable bags (a lot of stores charge extra for plastic bags). Now living here in the country, 99.99% don't use reusable bags even though they are available for purchase for 99 cents. The clerks are just so used to filling plastic bags that even if I gave them my bags they might mindlessly start filling the plastic bags and I had to remind them that I brought my own bags. I was so excited one day to see one other person with her reusable bags.

Reminds me of the song Canvas Bags by Tim Minchin. I get plastic bags because I use them to dispose of cat waste. Don't think a canvas bag would do too well for that...

It is an easy habit to get used to. I carry a mix of a couple of nice heavyweight bags (milk, juice ,etc) and lightweight reusable bags for all the rest. Always have them in my car.

It's about time governments banned them completely, that way none of us would forget.

I use reusable mesh and cotton bags for fruits, veggies, nuts, grains, seeds, etc., as well as reusable shopping bags, reusable coffee/water cups, reusable coffee coozy, etc. I try to limit my personal environmental impact as much as possible. While FAR from perfect, I do my best.

We use plastic bags to put out plastic bags in.

I will carry my tomatoes and carrots in my pockets ! Is that OK with you ???

I have the Mother Gaia way of thinking so I do my best to recycle and avoid plastic bags. I have two small bags that fit in my pocket. But the guys at the shop counter seem to take it personal. "Oh, I suppose you don't need a bag" and words to that effect. What's that about? Could the profit on plastic bags be good?

I kept reading this thinking why do they want me to use plastic bags??? and then I saw you said REconsider. I thought you just said consider. way too high to comprehend your posts apparently. wish we could melt all plastic into building blocks or solar cells.