I went to stay a couple of months in the US and of course I brought my reusable bag to the übermarket. The cashier didn't want to fill it. She insisted to use single-use bags :|
this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2024
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I was just thinking about this yesterday. In Washington state, they passed a law awhile back where stores can still give out plastic bags, but they have to be "reusable" (which means they're thicker, which means they use more plastic) and they charge you 8¢ per bag. Most people just pay the 8¢ per bag and walk out with half a dozen of them. I assume they're throwing them away at home, because I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever seen someone actually reuse these bags.
How does this reduce plastic waste? If anything the amount of plastic being thrown away has increased. The per-bag cost far too low to incentivize people to bring their own. Some stores offer a rebate if you supply your own bags, but it's usually 5¢ per bag, which is also too low of an incentive. So what we have is performative "feel good" legislation that ends up making the problem worse. As usual.
I'm a Washingtonian and have thought the same. It has led to more people bringing their own bag(s), though.
I imagine it depends where in the state you live. I'm sure the west side has more people bringing their own bags than the east side.
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I use them all a second time as a wet bag, refuse bag, etc. not perfect but better than just tossing them right away
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I'll repeat this.
ProTip: Leave a bag of bags in the car. When you shop, use a cart. Skip the bagging at the cashier and have them just put everything back in the cart. Bag at your car in peace and at your own pace. The cashier will appreciate you. The bagger will appreciate you. The other shoppers in line will appreciate you. Most of all, your nerves will appreciate you.
We have this awesome thing in a lot of places where you can use a scanner and scan as you shop. You can put the bag in the cart and bag while you shop. When you get to the self checkout, you can use the scanner and instantly pay for everything and be out within seconds. I pay with my phone so just a touch is needed and I'm out of there. If you are the carry bags kind you can even take the bag out of the cart, return the cart to the correct place and walk to the car with the bag. It's so fast and efficient.
I've become so spoiled I actively avoid places that don't have such a thing. And I hate people who have a full cart at the self checkout and scan everything much much slower than the regular checkout with a person who's job it is to do that. It's fine if you have like 5 items and just scan them quickly at the self checkout. Anything beyond that really should be scanned during the shopping or just go to the regular checkout which is designed to handle a lot of stuff.
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+1 on leaving bags in the car
And this concept of bagging at the car just blew my mind
It’s not even extra hassle to me because I hate how the cashiers were bagging items anyway. Problem solved. No waste. Exactly how you want it every time.
Costco style.
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Bah, be a real environmentalist and don't bring any bags.
Some places have banned single use plastic grocery bags, its not uncommon in my area to see at least a few people use reusable bags now.
Not banned in my area, and I use reusable bags anyway. So do other people, though it's still uncommon.
My area is so conservative they banned bans on single use plastic to own the libs.
Republicans love to take away freedoms.
You’re using it wrong!
Here's to hoping a federal mandate will eventually come. Sooner, the better, though.
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How dare you taking away jobs from the people that put your groceries in plastic bags at Walmart /s
It’s OK my local Walmart will force you to do your own checking out in the future anyway.
Why America tho? There have been reusable only bags in grocery stores for a long time now.
Depends on the state/area.
I know at least in Georgia (US), they still had those tissue paper thin bags at Target when I was there on business earlier in the year. They may have had reusable bags that you could buy didn't notice any), yet I didn't see a single person using one.
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In Austin, there was a short period of time where all grocery stores were legally required to ditch plastic bags.
A successful campaign strategy for city council right after that was to run against the plastic bag ban because people kept forgetting their reusable bags. Everybody agreed they are bad but individualism and a sense of laziness prevailed. This is America.
I'm not sure Texas counts
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