Yeah, between trash and dog poop, we reuse all of our plastic bags too.
I agree with the above statement about reusable burlap/canvas bags - they gross me out too. Everything in our house and cars can (and often does) end up with dog hair on it. So, ok, I would guess this is the case in many homes (that may or may not be clean homes). Dog hair, cat hair, dirt, grime, food, etc etc etc. People then bring these hairy, dirty reusable bags into the grocery store. Doesn't it make sense that they are then depositing some of that filth in the store? ICK!
I guess the "cure" for that problem would be if a particular store has a place to trade reusable canvas bags. You come into the store, and you deposit your "dirty" bags in a big bin, and then you get freshly cleaned bags on your way out. Sort of like taking a new plate at a buffet. Of course, this probably wouldn't work, because it would be expensive: a) to keep cleaning the bags and b) because people wouldn't bring bags back - they would hoard them at home or throw them away, and just get new ones each time.
I think plastic can be used less often in other ways though: do we need those plastic rings that hold soda 6-packs together? Do products need to be boxed and THEN wrapped in plastic? Do products need to be in plastic and THEN in a box? If lightbulbs are safe in a cardboard sleeve, then why do batteries need to be in those industrial strength plastic cases that cut the crap out of your hand when you open them? Do rolls of paper towels and toilet paper need to be wrapped individually and then again as a package of 12 or 24? Do CDs and DVDs need to be in a plastic case, then wrapped in plastic, then put in those dumb plastic security devices? Do ladies underwear and bras need to be on plastic hangers that you take home and throw away, or could they be displayed on a shelf instead? Could dry cleaners put clean clothes in canvas bags that double as laundry bags, so that dirty stuff comes in in the same bag that it leaves in, once it's cleaned (they could clean the bag with the shirts!)?
Sandra Bullock was on Oprah recently talking about her new restaurant. They use plastic forks and knives and plastic cups and lids and straws and take out containers made from sugarcane and potatoes, rather than from plastic and styrofoam. See here.
http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/23/sandra-bullock-goes-green-with-candles-and-a-restaurant/
Seems to me like this would be a better place to start than with reusable grocery bags.
And while we're on the subject... This seems ridiculous to me: My city
charges for recycling. How silly is that? You can either throw stuff out (cans, bottles, newspapers, etc) with the regular trash for the same price you pay for trash anyway, or you can pay MORE to have that stuff recycled. Not only would you have to pay more to have things recycled, but it takes more time - sorting trash from recyclable stuff, rinsing out cans/bottles, etc., bundling newspapers, takes more room in your house/garage because of separate containers for paper/plastic/aluminum/glass. You'd think recycling companies would be given enough governmental aid to allow them to function as a free service to customers, rather than people having to pay to save the environment.
Off soapbox now.
