Come on people, do it! Bring your own bags when you go shopping…
To the grocery store, to the farmer’s market, to the mall, and anywhere they give you plastic or paper bags to load up your goodies! I know most cashiers in stores (especially here) don’t understand but explain to them why you don’t want them. Insist on no individual plastic bags for each item! Tell them you’ll save them some energy on their bagging efforts by offering to help. You’d be surprised to find a curious ear wanting to learn why you are bringing them. Some stores will offer a credit for each bag you bring. Whole Foods will give you $0.05 for every one. I’ve even been given a bag or two by a retailer that saw me using a competitor’s bag. People in line behind you will be interested too. And even if they don’t use them, it will be some food for thought.
Keep them in your car or backpack so you always have them. Even if they are still in your car when you get to the checkout counter most employees will gladly watch your cart and wait for you to grab your own bag. Give them to friends and family members as gifts and explain why they should use them. Dig around in your closet and attic to find large beach bags or old purses, they are great for this.
It’s so easy, all you have to do is DO IT! It takes about 15 consecutive times of doing something before it becomes a habit. You’ll be so proud of yourself and know you have done a great deed for our environment. You’ll have saved trees and petroleum that is used in making these bags. You’ll have saved space in our landfills and trash in and around our neighborhoods.
Bag counter courtesy of reusablebags.com
