plastic bags cost

[bremer51]

We get a 10-cent credit if we use our own bags at the local grocery store.  Haven't been charged for bags yet.  Its probably coming.

[cadence4u]

In California, we pay $0.10 for bags!

Grocery stores have nice bags to purchase. Some people can make your own!

[UGetPaid]

I would put the stuff back in the buggy and carry it out that way before I paid 10 cents per bag.  They make a killing off that.

You bring up a good point. What's to stop the grocery store from putting less items in the bags at checkout - thus forcing you to 'buy' more bags?

[UGetPaid]

A number of folks have commented on re-using plastic bags, which I am 100% in favor of. I do as well.  But they still ultimately end up in the trash when I do this. We always take a few empties when we are away from home and use them to segregate the dirty from the clean laundry packed into the same suitcase.  We also use them for cleaning out the cats' litter boxes (but always have to check each bag closely for tears or holes. Even the tiny pinholes can leak a trail of dirty litter! I also use them when I walk to collect discarded aluminum cans.

The bags used for dirty litter and can collecting all end up in the trash afterward - even as second and third use bags.

[aflyingmonkey]

I live in California & those flimsy plastic bags in grocery stores have been banned... you have to either purchase a durable, up to 10 uses plastic bag for 10cents, bring a re-usable bag, or just not get bags.  I miss the flimsy free plastic bags, because I used them as trash bags, but you can still get them from shopping at places like Home Depot for free.

I'm all for reducing garbage, so it really isn't a big deal to carry around your re-usable shopping bags.

Places in Europe have stop using them for decades already & the people survive the inconvenience & just moved on & dealt with it & now it has become their way of life, just like it will be here in the USA.

[ghunter]

I too am happy that have not happen here in Georgia

[Galaban]

Plastic bag is not ban in our place yet. But that is good idea to ban the plastic bag or plastic disposable.

[Tresbn00]

Our state (Colorado) does not require a charge for plastic bags but I wish they would. If they did I would hope that the money charged would go towards cleaning up waste. Plastic is every where: if one small charge keeps people from mucking up our environment, I am all for it. I go out of my way to avoid contributing to our landfills. Even though there is no charge for plastic bags I use cloth bags for shopping and carrying my lunch. I have used the same metal water bottle, filled with filtered water/ice cubes, for the last six years. I have one set of silverware at work that I use, instead of using the plastic flatware that is so readily available. My lunches come to work in a re-useable glass container (sealed with a plastic top-unfortunately).

[countrygirl12]

We get a 10-cent credit if we use our own bags at the local grocery store.  Haven't been charged for bags yet.  Its probably coming.

10 cent credit on the total order or per bag?  Either way that is pretty cool.

[countrygirl12]

I would put the stuff back in the buggy and carry it out that way before I paid 10 cents per bag.  They make a killing off that.

You bring up a good point. What's to stop the grocery store from putting less items in the bags at checkout - thus forcing you to 'buy' more bags?

lol.  True.  This bag gets one item.  This one gets 2.  This one gets 1.  smh  I could see that.

[ktheodos]

Here in my state recently all merchants have started to charge 10 cents for plastic bags when you buy something. You can bring your own bags to avoid these  extra charges. Does this happen in your state yet?

In some places yes.....and I have seen it elsewhere too....it seems to work?

[countrygirl12]

A number of folks have commented on re-using plastic bags, which I am 100% in favor of. I do as well.  But they still ultimately end up in the trash when I do this. We always take a few empties when we are away from home and use them to segregate the dirty from the clean laundry packed into the same suitcase.  We also use them for cleaning out the cats' litter boxes (but always have to check each bag closely for tears or holes. Even the tiny pinholes can leak a trail of dirty litter! I also use them when I walk to collect discarded aluminum cans.

The bags used for dirty litter and can collecting all end up in the trash afterward - even as second and third use bags.

What is the difference in reusing Walmart bags for trash cans that are that size and purchasing the rolls of small trash bags?  At least this way the bag is used more than one time.

Plastic bag is not ban in our place yet. But that is good idea to ban the plastic bag or plastic disposable.

So are you going to ban trash bags as well?

Our state (Colorado) does not require a charge for plastic bags but I wish they would. If they did I would hope that the money charged would go towards cleaning up waste. Plastic is every where: if one small charge keeps people from mucking up our environment, I am all for it. I go out of my way to avoid contributing to our landfills. Even though there is no charge for plastic bags I use cloth bags for shopping and carrying my lunch. I have used the same metal water bottle, filled with filtered water/ice cubes, for the last six years. I have one set of silverware at work that I use, instead of using the plastic flatware that is so readily available. My lunches come to work in a re-useable glass container (sealed with a plastic top-unfortunately).

Good for you.  But you cannot force everyone to do what you do.  I agree there is a lot of waste that could be eliminated. But banning straws in drinks is foolishness.  I swear every time I see a package of straws I want to buy them (even though I don't need them) just because some nosy busy bodies tell me I cannot use them.  Maybe we need to go after who ever thought it would be a good idea to throw the trash in the oceans.  Or fine people for littering. 

If Walmart stopped having the plastic bags I would do something else and so would everyone else.  It wouldn't be a huge deal.  At the same time people go over board trying to shove their views on other people.  Or force people to do things they way they do them.  Kind of like car pooling.  I drive myself to work.  I don't want people riding with me and I don't want to ride with someone else.

[JaniceSW]

I think a great deal of the point here is that we are slowly ruining our planet.  When population is expanding exponentially all the time, we must make an effort to do the right thing, and sometimes that means doing things that are not the most expedient and convenient or what we are used to.  It's called being good stewards of this planet and passing it on to future generations in a useable, eco-friendly way so that they have clean water and clean air, for example.  Each person doing a little bit is what this is about! 

[countrygirl12]

I think a great deal of the point here is that we are slowly ruining our planet.  When population is expanding exponentially all the time, we must make an effort to do the right thing, and sometimes that means doing things that are not the most expedient and convenient or what we are used to.  It's called being good stewards of this planet and passing it on to future generations in a useable, eco-friendly way so that they have clean water and clean air, for example.  Each person doing a little bit is what this is about! 

We are not going to be able to "save the planet". 

[mrsmere]

Only at Aldi.  A clerk told me the bags are the most expensive things in the store and managers want them to use as few as possible.  Often they have to double them up because they so flimsy or they can't get them open to put your items in.  I've seen bags burst before people can get to their cars.  I reuse the bags to line trash cans also but I'm not willing to pay 10 cents for a bag.