[suilusargaino]

I use both. First I wrap groceries in a paper bag. Then I use a plastic bag to wrap the paper bag. When I'm done, I like to cut up the plastic into small rings and toss them on the necks of ducks and geese.

[Nurba]

Reusable plastic bags.

[goolen4you]

I use plastic grocery bag... after, I use them for garbage bag.

[Fertionbratte]

In the words of PoopBall:

grocery bags are the single greatest problem facing social advancement. Every choice sucks.

Paper = KILLING THE TREES
Plastic = OIL AND LITTER
Cloth = EXPLOITATION OF POOR BAG-MAKERS IN 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES!

[Roker]

My groceries are delivered in cardboard boxes!

Also, Costco purchases are carried in cardboard boxes!

CARDBOARD BOXES ARE TEH SOLTUTION!

[Piemonedmow]

SCREW 'EM!

[Smittoh]

Disposable plastic -- SAVE THE RAINFORESTS

[Pashtet]

Edited by Lancer's Request

Originally posted by Lancer
Wouldn't work.

The crates are rolled in, not carried.

There Lancer, now do your part!

[Nashhlkq]

Every time I demand crates they are like, ok and get one. They know I'm coming and have crates ready. It's awesome.

[Mangoman]

Disposable bags have multiple uses - eg: bin liners, storing and transporting recycling-waste , poop-bags for responsible dog-owners, double-wrapping waste to discourage vermin and maintain public health standards etc.

So balance of re-usable (canvas or thick plastic) and disposable at the user's consent is the sensible way. Banning disposable bags (which, I gather, are made from a by-product of other oil-based products) is quasi-religious knee-jerk reaction that should be opposed.

[arerrurrY]

I use cloth bags. Don't like the canvas bags much, you can't fold them up small.

Amusingly at the local supermarket, there's a promotion where, if you use reusable bags, you enter a draw to win a big bag full of groceries.
Because I go in every day to get my groceries, and use a single reusable bag, I've entered the draw lots and lots of times. Sometimes I've even gone to the supermarket twice in one day. It almost feels like I'm exploiting the system because I get so many tickets to enter the draw.
But the irony (wait? wrong thread?) is that I basically only buy fresh ingredients which is why I go in so often, while the bag you win, is full of processed packaged garbage that I wouldn't even be able to eat. If I won I'd just say "Thanks" and tip it into the adjacent food-bank donations crate.

[wsbizwsa]

Maybe it is more comforting to think of it as "sequestering toxins in human bodies", as opposed to releasing them into the greater environment where they would cause at least as much harm to other living beings.

[ToifvT5S]

Originally posted by MrFun
Ha! Blake is a Nazi who wants to exterminate "undesireables" through food poisoning! Sounds like a pretty normal guy.

[poonnassunlix]

Costco > Sam's Club

[Bymnbypeten]

I miss the paper bags. I would just use that as a trash can. Plastic bags rip too easily.

I've never seen a canvas or cloth bag in my life, but it sounds unsanitary.

[paydayloanfasters]

Another thing I do when shopping. You know how with fresh fruit and veges (hopefully everyone knows what they are), you normally grab a little plastic bag and put the fruit/vegse in the bag?

I don't bother with the little plastic bags unless I'm buying more than about 3 pieces at once (usually I go for a wide variety*). The checkout clerks have no trouble with bag-less fruit (I really don't think they mind) and it's never come to harm by being loose in my cloth bags.

This quite dramatically cuts down the number of plastic bags I end up with.

You also pay less, because those plastic bags? They weigh something . Not much, but it's something. I often buy about 6 different types of fruit/vege and and that's 6 less plastic bags. I'm very happy when I manage to have a plastic-bag free shopping trip .

* I was kind of shocked when I first heard the idea of buying a SINGLE piece of fruit or a single vege, but there's absolutely no reason not to, if you only want the one. Though usually I buy them in pairs.

[HotDolly]

I am the ONLY one to vote Paper Bags.

Plastic is NOT Earth-Friendly. Paper is.

I demand my groceries be placed in paper bags. Plus, I use them for my recycling.

I am just SHOCKED that no one else chose paper.

[UrUROFlS]

Paper costs more resources to make, so is likely less earth safe.

JM
(unless you reuse)

[occalmnab]

Originally posted by Wittlich

Why is there still a decision of plastic vs. paper? There isn't, as far as I can tell -- I can't remember the last time I was offered a paper bag. That might be because I live overseas, though.

I use plastic, and reuse the bags as kitchen trash bags. Not ideal, but the best I can do in the circumstances.

[Zhgpavye]

As a matter of fact, there is a law being voted on here soon in California that will charge customers a fee for using plastic bags over paper.