Inconspicuous non-consumption

[mamculuna]

I don't normally pimp products, especially when I don't own stock in the company, but after royalbananafish's excellent post on all the plastic now in the ocean, I really want to let everyone know that a very simple solution is ChicoBags. They're light and washable but very big and strong, they come in wonderful colors, and best of all they have a little pocket on the inside so you can fold them up into themselves, making a small neat little bundle. I carry four with me all the time, so I don't find myself with a basketful of groceries and no bag with me. I used to accumulate wads and wads of bags to recycle, and now hardly any at all. If you don't use Chicos, use something else that works for you. No more plastic bags!

ETA, Unrelated: A bug is crawling on my computer screen and I was trying to knock it off with the cursor...there are probably jokes about people like me.

Comments

[usedtobeljs]

I need to keep at least one of my Greenbags in my car, don't I....

And I am happy to say that on our walks I now collect the Small Blonde Dog's mess in recycled paper bags rather than plastic. (I know some folk who use a washable scooper, but I can't quite manage it. Will keep trying.)

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Sure -- then keep a toilet brush at an outdoor faucet, and some lysol right inside the door. That way you never take the mess indoors.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Recycled anything is good! That cuts out one new product, anytime you reuse anything.

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

I'm gradually phasing out plastic in my life. This year, I started toting my cotton bags around in my giganto-purse. It takes a bit of time to effect change... but eventually it happens! *at peace with mankind today*

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

My worst use is take-out. There are some places that will put stuff in your own reusable boxes, but so much of it is pre-packaged. One small step at a time--I'm so glad to get rid of the bags right now. Next week I'll see what's next.

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

Ack! I'm tormented every day deciding where to eat because I work in a huge office tower with a 50-restaurant food court. ALL the restaurants use throwaway stuff!

*steps*

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Places that wrap stuff in paper are less destructive than those that use styrofoam.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It takes a long time. I remember taking bags back to a grocery store in the 60's--they chraged five cents a bag if you didn't. I'm justnot sure we have the time it takes, now.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

OK, I went over and ordered 5 Chico bags (and your link is wonky, but I just erased the last two characters, and went with the base address).

I have to say that I re-use all plastic bags until they disintegrate or I pass them on -- sometimes to the thrift store, which does not have to purchase them if they get a good donation. I use them to pad mailing boxes instead of buying bubble wrap or peanuts; I carry them to Costco and re-use therm for that. One time I mailed a friend a box of books padded with plastic bags, and she thanked me profusely for the bags because they used them for the cat's box and had accidentally used all the ones they had.

But I will admit to having too many of them, so I'll try these and let the plastic ones deplete as I reuse them.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

yay you! If you can work out a way to carry them with you, the next hurdle will be stopping the clerks from loading the plastic bags before they start. So often, if they have stuff in a bag and you produce your own, they'll toss the used one, grrr, defeating the whole point. I've learned to open them up and put them on the belt before any of the groceries but for small purchases, I'll often have to tell them several times that *I have My Own Bag*, thank you very much. I long for the day when enough people have their own that the clerks will automatically ask, instead of assuming.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I have carabiner clips, and usually I stuff several plastic ones in my pockets to re-use anyway. Half the stores I go to don't offer bags at all. None at Costco and at Aldi they make you buy the paper bags at 5 cents each if you are going to use theirs. Bookstores always ask if you *want* a bag. I don't get one unless it is raining.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Here is a site with plain cotton bags that are 1.00 -- http://www.tansclub.com/cottontotebag.html. Can't get any cheaper.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Wonderful--and gotta love your icon!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

heh -- thanks. It's one of the mouse pads I designed to sell at the Heinlein Centennial.

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I have three fabric shopping bags I really try to remember to take with me when I shop. I still have some plastic bags, but I recycle them. I must remember to take the plastic bags for vegies with me to the produce store; I have a pile of them in the kitchen drawer. It would be great if we all did this, wouldn't it?

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

What I love about the Chicos is that they're so small, folded up, tthat I can carry several of them in my purse all the time and have them with me for things I buy on the spur of the moment. I have some cloth bags but they were never there when I needed them! I'm doing well to remember to go to the store--remembering the bags rarely happened. But other people are better about this than me. My son keeps his bag collection in the trunk of his car, since he almost always has to drive to the store. I occasionally walk here, but always in Chicago. But in Chicago I have a little-old-lady cart to drag onto the bus if I really have a load.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

And love your icon!