Reusable Grocery Bags

Well, hose plastic bags are reusable, in fact my local grocery will credit me 3 cents per bag. We have found canvass bags at various stores that we have occasionally used at stores. In reality, any "bag" can be used...why does it have to be marketed as a "grocery" bag?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Feb 4 2007, 12:42 PM) [snapback]385216[/snapback]</div>

That is a great point. I think we grow up thinking that we require a specially designed or "labeled" item to serve a purpose. I am just as guilty as anyone of this and I often sit stupified when someone from a poorer country or area of our own country shows me how to use something "not designed" for the job I am doing. I just think "duh!, why didn't I think of that?" LOL

For instance, a friend of mine comes from Venezuela. I was sitting in the kitchen one day and after finishing a box of cereal, my friend's mother pulled the plastic bag out of the ceral box and washed it out then hung it near the sink to dry. I aked her what she was doing and she said "saving the bog" and gave me a look as if to say "Wth do you think I'm doing with it?". She saves them and uses them for storing goods or any other use you would attribute to a plastic bag. It was just another lesson for me. Reuse what you can (when it is healthy to do so).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Feb 4 2007, 06:07 PM) [snapback]385228[/snapback]</div>

What a great thought...man o man, I can see use for those bags now.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BORNGEARHEAD @ Feb 4 2007, 04:33 PM) [snapback]385236[/snapback]</div>

I think it was a typo for "those"

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Heavy-Duty-Blue-...1QQcmdZViewItem

those can hold a 5 gallon bucket.

Remember.... Whatever it is... go ebay...


If you want cotton. he sells that too: http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Strong-Cotton-Ca...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I re-use all my plastic grocery bags.

They become trash can liners.


http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Produ...mp;PRODID=64996

It's really a symbiotic relationship. I always seem to have just the right amount on hand.

 

Trader Joe's sells the canvas bags (if you have Trader Joe's by your house). I've used some old canvas bags that I've gotten at computer trade shows over the year (when I remember to take them LOL). They work better than the incredibly cheap plastic bags my local supermarket now uses.

 

I've got expandable string bags that were probably crocheted by political prisoners in third world countries.

Eco-bags

I also have various canvas totes.

I made some one with some fabric panels I got from the fabric store. They had a save the earth and recycle logo printed on them. I made several. But it's the string totes I bring with me to the store.

I've been meaning to find a pattern for crocheting these myself. I've started a "fabric arts" club at school and am looking for free patterns for them. They might be interested in making these both as gifts and to help the environment.

Long shopping bag

Turkish string bag

I prefer two handles. May try to create a pattern from the bags I have.

If you don't want to recycle your plastic grocery bags, you can use them as materials for making tote bags, rugs and such.

How to crochet with plastic grocery bags.

plastic bag tote

Another plastic bag tote

Eco-tote

 

I always take paper bags over plastic when I go shopping. Actually, I re-use the paper bags I have already have. When they wear out, I recycle them.

I wrote a few blogs about this, in case someone wants to read;

http://www.chamaree.com/wp/?p=176
http://www.chamaree.com/wp/?p=343

 

I reuse the plastic bags as wastepaper basket liners.

I also take them to school to put in a dispenser for students to wrap their textbooks in should it rain. Moldy books are toxic and must be discarded. At $65.00 a pop, I'd rather have the kids use the plastic bags than ruin the books. (You'd be surprised how many don't use backpacks and the books get wet.)

I still love string bags for the grocery store. There used to be a few stores where I would get a credit if I brought my own.

I'm looking at the string bags I have and it looks like a simple chain and single crochet ad infinitum. Then you gather it into the top band and two handles. Probably not worth the labor and materials to make them compared to how cheap you can buy them. I'll probabaly make one, then buy a set of eco-bags from the link above.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid @ Feb 4 2007, 05:56 PM) [snapback]385245[/snapback]</div>

My experience.....Drawback on these is that it doesn't appear you can throw them over your shoulder as the straps aren't long enough. I had two different canvas bag types. Some from Whole Foods w/ very long straps and some from Trader Joes with much shorter straps. It's a pain in the butt to use the Trader Joes bags if I have a lot of groceries as I can't put them on my shoulders. I end up carrying 4 very heavy bags with my hands and it's definitely not as convenient. On the up side I use them at every single store I visit and they are very durable.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(livewire @ Feb 4 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]385254[/snapback]</div>

TJ's now sells a sturdy plastic bag w/handles, about the size of their paper bags, for $.99.

 

If you have an Aldi store near you, they sell pretty decent bags for $.10 per. Here is a store locator http://aldi.us/

 

Lands End and LL Bean both sell heavy canvas tote bags in various sizes from tiny to enormous. My daughter uses them for groveries, but if you get too big, then the load gets too heavy. You can also get these bags with a zippered top as opposed to open - the straps on the medium size (and up) are long enough to put over your shoulder. And Lands End will let you return them if you don't like them, even if they are monogrammed. Even better - if you have a Lands End Inlet Store nearby - buy someone else's monogrammed bag. You can make up whatever you want the initials to stand for. My daughter had one monogrammed WVU - which we said stood for "Woman Virtuously Using-a-canvas-bag"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grandma Judy @ Feb 5 2007, 02:08 PM) [snapback]385717[/snapback]</div>

Cute!

 

We've just recently adopted this as part of our ongoing "get the low hanging fruit first" campaign. Our city's rec center is selling bags for $1 each. They're about the same size as the typical plastic bags you get at the store. My wife just keeps them in her car so that it's easier to remember to use them. For each plastic bag we don't use the store credits us $0.05 so the ROI (like we really care, but hey, it's money saved, right?) is actually pretty good.

 

Lands End, LL Bean and REI all sell large canvas shopping bags. They are washable and we use them for all sorts of things, not just groceries. I love going to the store, standing in the check out counter and being asked, "Paper or Plastic?" and responding, "Cloth!" This opens an opportunity to explain that plastic bags are not easy to recycle and are oil-based. Canvas saves the customer and store money and does not contribute to solid waste. Many stores give you a $0.05 credit for every bag that you reuse (paper or canvas).