If you use no plastic bags at the grocery store...

[Anonymous]

How do you manage it?

[Anonymous]

Get the reusable bags from my car before I go in?

[Anonymous]

Keep reusable bags in my car. Keep one scrunched and stuffed in my purse at all times, for spontaneous grocery pitstop.

[Anonymous]

Reusable bags in my car that I often forget. I have a reusable bag that folds up super small in the bottom of my big purse. Between the purse and the bag I am usually okay if I forget the reusable bags in the card.

[Anonymous]

I recently bought Baggu bags from Amazon. I like that they are sturdy but very lightweight, and they fold simply (no crazy folding pattern to learn) to fit in their thin carrying cases. I always keep one in my purse for occasional purchases, and I keep several others in my car for bigger trips. I can wash them in my washing machine & hang dry. Easy-peasy. Wish I'd switched sooner.

[Anonymous]

NP

If you use reusable bags for the groceries,w hat do you put your trash in? Do you buy plastic bags for that?

I used to use reusable bags, and I still do sometimes. I mostly get the regular plastic bags at the store, though, because I then use them for my trash. At least there were two good uses that way.

I live alone, and daily trash is 1-2 small plastic bags worth, max.

[Anonymous]

But what do you use for produce bags?

I have some fine mesh bags that work for certain fruits & veggies, but they aren't great for kale or green onions.

Plus, I like to use plastic bags around the meat as it can get a little slimy.

[Anonymous]

I keep and reuse previously used plastic produce bags. Some stores (Trader Joe's and MOM's) have upgraded to corn-based, biodegradable produce bags, which are good for this purpose. I've also used cotton or nylon mesh bags for produce, though my toddler steals them.

I bought a rolling shopping bag from Whole Foods years ago and use it for walkable grocery trips. It's small enough to take on transit and holds enough without getting too heavy. The frame is made of lightweight metal and can be used to hold larger items with a few strategically placed bungie cords. I've taken off the bag component and have used it as a car seat carrier as well as dolly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what do you use for produce bags?

I have some fine mesh bags that work for certain fruits & veggies, but they aren't great for kale or green onions.

Plus, I like to use plastic bags around the meat as it can get a little slimy.

I always plastic bag the meat -- food safety is more important than saving a bit of plastic!

I put as much produce as I can straight in the bag, with no additional bag.

For wet stuff or very delicate stuff like lettuce, I use a produce bag, and try to reuse it at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP

If you use reusable bags for the groceries,w hat do you put your trash in? Do you buy plastic bags for that?

I used to use reusable bags, and I still do sometimes. I mostly get the regular plastic bags at the store, though, because I then use them for my trash. At least there were two good uses that way.

I live alone, and daily trash is 1-2 small plastic bags worth, max.

I never could use these for trash because 9 times out of 10 there was a hole at the bottom of the grocery bag and my trash would leak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep and reuse previously used plastic produce bags. Some stores (Trader Joe's and MOM's) have upgraded to corn-based, biodegradable produce bags, which are good for this purpose. I've also used cotton or nylon mesh bags for produce, though my toddler steals them.

I bought a rolling shopping bag from Whole Foods years ago and use it for walkable grocery trips. It's small enough to take on transit and holds enough without getting too heavy. The frame is made of lightweight metal and can be used to hold larger items with a few strategically placed bungie cords. I've taken off the bag component and have used it as a car seat carrier as well as dolly.

Do you wash & dry the produce bags before reusing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP

If you use reusable bags for the groceries,w hat do you put your trash in? Do you buy plastic bags for that?

I used to use reusable bags, and I still do sometimes. I mostly get the regular plastic bags at the store, though, because I then use them for my trash. At least there were two good uses that way.

I live alone, and daily trash is 1-2 small plastic bags worth, max.

I never could use these for trash because 9 times out of 10 there was a hole at the bottom of the grocery bag and my trash would leak.

+ 1

I use regular plastic trash bags and just try to reduce the amount of trash I create to reduce my plastic consumption here.

[Anonymous]

I keep reusable grocery bags in my care and one in my purse.

I put every kind of produce into produce bags if wet (like lettuce) and in nothing is dry (like apples). I do stick it in the wash generally but no big deal if I forget.

I use biodegradable trash bags only because my condo building insists on using them. Otherwise, I wouldn't use any garbage bag. Recycling goes into the recycling bin free - never bagged.

Seriously, not hard to do and actually easy once you get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep and reuse previously used plastic produce bags. Some stores (Trader Joe's and MOM's) have upgraded to corn-based, biodegradable produce bags, which are good for this purpose. I've also used cotton or nylon mesh bags for produce, though my toddler steals them.

I bought a rolling shopping bag from Whole Foods years ago and use it for walkable grocery trips. It's small enough to take on transit and holds enough without getting too heavy. The frame is made of lightweight metal and can be used to hold larger items with a few strategically placed bungie cords. I've taken off the bag component and have used it as a car seat carrier as well as dolly.

Do you wash & dry the produce bags before reusing?

Not the plastic ones. Granted, I avoid putting damp things inside of them, and will let them dry if there is moisture present.

[Anonymous]

First I ordered canvas bags and mesh produce bags off Amazon. I keep the produce bags in my purse. I hang the grocery bags on the same hook as my purse and coat so when I go to the store, I just grab them. To remind yourself, when you make your list and know you're going to the store, you can put the bags on top of your purse hook so you'll have to pick the bags up before you go anywhere. Or keep them in the front seat of your car. Occasionally I throw them in the washing machine.