How to answer when the bag boy asks "Paper or Plastic"?

Question

I know there are pros and cons to both. I would like to hear which option you prefer and why. I also realize bringing your own bag is the most environmentally sound, but how many actually do that regularly. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I always bring my own bags - one tote bag, a "Big Blue Bag" from Ikea, and a smaller bag. If I somehow run out of space, I try to get paper bags if possible.

Most people are suggesting plastic bags because they have more use around the house. If you're talking about which is more recyclable, it's paper bags. Traditional plastic grocery bags are not recyclable

http://ask.yahoo.com/20070410.html

Although in California we recently enacted a law where starting July 1st, stores that use plastic bags have to have recycling bins specifically for them, because they can be reused to make weather-resistent lumber products.

http://www.sacbee.com/102/story/217237.html

Paper bags are better because they can be recycled in a normal recycling bin, but they're not great either.

"Beyond enormous energy costs, 14 million trees in 1999 alone were cut down to manufacture the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans."

http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/plastic-bags.htm

So in terms of environmental impact, bringing your own bags is by far the best. If you don't, then paper is a bit better than plastic, unless you know of a place that specifically recycles plastic grocery bags (like in CA).

Answer 2

As was said above, most stores don't even give you the option of paper or plastic. Which is interesting because the municipal government here has banned plastic bags altogether by the end of the decade.

They are doing that because the plastic bag which people like to reuse to package their garbage forms a barrier around anything contained within, so garbage which would normally decay in the environment does not. That creates much more volume of garbage for a longer time.

So I would have a preference for paper if that were the only choice but personally I recognise that the problem is not the material of the packaging at all but rather that it is only used once.

I try to apply the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle even to the packaging I use. When I buy groceries I prefer a discount grocery store (for canned and packaged goods ... there is a much better market for fruits and vegetables in the area) which gives the option of using the cardboard boxes that were used to ship the products to the store. I then use those same cardboard boxes to put out my recycleables rather than buying an overpriced "blue box".

Don't forget, it took a lot of energy to create all those cardboard boxes, too. Why waste that energy taking the goods out, displaying them, then repackaging them in plastic bags for no other purpose than carrying them home?

Answer 3

I tend to alternate between the two, but get plastic more often. I have found more uses for plastic. Plastic bags are good liners for small garbage cans, I use them to keep food fresher, they can be put over things you don't want to get wet when it is raining, I also give some to our local thrift store which always needs bags, also the library needs some but not nearly as many and many other ways I'm not listing. Paper bags are good for holding recyclable papers and holding large quantities of veggies.

Answer 4

I prefer plastic please. This way I can use the bags for my mini waste baskets, that takes a long time to fill up. Also good for cleaning kitty litter box out. Or if I'm having a yard sale, I reuse it so the people can store their purchases in.Many useful things to do with grocery store bags. Also certain store suchs as, Save A Lot and Aldies, you have to have your own bags, if not they charge you such as six cents for paper, and 11 cents for plastic.```

Answer 5

I can't recall seeing anyone using their own bags at the checkout counter.

My preference is plastic, because I can put it back into the recycling bin to be processed back into other plastic items.

I don't use paper because I don't know where the raw material is coming from, if it were 100% recycled I'd probably go with that.

Answer 6

I carry 3 cloth bags in my handbag. Why? plastic never rots away whereas natural materials do. Cloth bags are reusable and don't take up much room in my bag. Cloth bags are much stronger so they don't cut into my hands. Cloth bags look much better when you are carrying them. They can 'eventually' be washed so kinder to the environment. Cloth bags can raise awareness by advertising issues important to me such as Fair Trade and Permaculture not a supermarket.

Since the UK supermarkets have given shopping 'points' for using your own bags, offering Lifelong bags and charging separately for plastic bags many many more people bring their own.

Answer 7

i use now a tote bag you can put about 3 plastic bags of groceryies in them, and i just got a recyeled plastic bag from ikea. they make them smalaler look for them, and use them instead of plastic or paper. the are reinforced and are like a big giant tote plastic bag. very sturdy.

one store in cnd they make you pay for the bags like ikea does so they give you an option to bring your own or use boxes they have. try pushing this idea.

Answer 8

for the most part I do say plastic, as with the other people I reuse them. ex- small garbage cans. sack lunches, when walking the dog. Or some stores have an area that will take the bags back and recycle them again.

Answer 9

At a lot of grocery stores these days it's usually only plastic,but I would use paper so I could use them as trash bags later on.

Answer 10

I usually say plastic: I then reuse the bags for garbage can liners, and for cleaning the kitty litter.

I didn't have an 'own bag' to bring, until recently.