Comments on: My Crazy Mixed Up Plastic Bags http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html Gardening isn't a hobby, it is an obsession Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:15:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Denise Markowitz http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html/comment-page-1#comment-6292 Denise Markowitz Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:14:38 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html#comment-6292 I love using the green bags sold in the supermarkets and now even Target/WalMart sells them. I have a (ridiculous) problem that I can't seem to find an answer to. What happens when these bags fall apart? Do you throw them out, recycle at the curbside with plastic or put them in the plastic bag recycling bins at the supermarket? I've got quite a few that have their wear & tear beyond repair. What is everyone doing with them? I love using the green bags sold in the supermarkets and now even Target/WalMart sells them. I have a (ridiculous) problem that I can’t seem to find an answer to. What happens when these bags fall apart? Do you throw them out, recycle at the curbside with plastic or put them in the plastic bag recycling bins at the supermarket? I’ve got quite a few that have their wear & tear beyond repair. What is everyone doing with them?

]]> By: robyn http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html/comment-page-1#comment-6107 robyn Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:29:45 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html#comment-6107 In Australia they are phasing out the plastic bag so we are getting used to bringing the reusable ones with us to the shops. Actually.. thinking about it, it might only be in South Australia, where I live. Anyway.. they have advertised it heaps and the shops have signs everywhere but people still forget their bags and get pissed off at not being able to get plastic. Pretty funny. I'm aiming to go all year without forgetting my bags.. so far so good! In Australia they are phasing out the plastic bag so we are getting used to bringing the reusable ones with us to the shops. Actually.. thinking about it, it might only be in South Australia, where I live. Anyway.. they have advertised it heaps and the shops have signs everywhere but people still forget their bags and get pissed off at not being able to get plastic. Pretty funny. I’m aiming to go all year without forgetting my bags.. so far so good!

]]> By: Raffi http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html/comment-page-1#comment-6038 Raffi Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:00:08 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html#comment-6038 Another big waste of plastic is the clear bags people put their vegetables in, even if they buy just 2 tomatoes. For some reason nobody talks about these! I bought some fruits and veggies prebagged in those red plastic net type bags that are very light. I'm taking those to the grocery store with me as well, so I don't bring home ANY plastic bags at all! Another big waste of plastic is the clear bags people put their vegetables in, even if they buy just 2 tomatoes. For some reason nobody talks about these! I bought some fruits and veggies prebagged in those red plastic net type bags that are very light. I’m taking those to the grocery store with me as well, so I don’t bring home ANY plastic bags at all!

]]> By: Annie in Austin http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html/comment-page-1#comment-6018 Annie in Austin Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:20:22 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html#comment-6018 I'm late as usual, Hanna, to your timely and thoughtful post. Philo & I still have a few of the original cloth bags sold by High School ecology groups in the late 1980's-early 1990's, but they didn't catch on with the stores or the shoppers. For one thing they were tall and deep instead of broadbased. The newer bags have the longest side running horizontally instead of vertically, and I think MSS is right, that their ability to fold up and reinforcing inserts for the bottom makes a huge difference. The cans and bottles fit better and stuff doesn't get squashed. The stores have better attitudes now, too. Dotted around the parking lot of my Austin grocery stores, signs remind you to bring in your green bags, the staff is practiced and some places sell a slightly more expensive ziptop version with insulation for cold food. That's a real plus in Texas, where a January day like today can top 80 degrees. Happy 2009, Hanna - tomato days will come again. Annie at the Transplantable Rose I’m late as usual, Hanna, to your timely and thoughtful post. Philo & I still have a few of the original cloth bags sold by High School ecology groups in the late 1980′s-early 1990′s, but they didn’t catch on with the stores or the shoppers. For one thing they were tall and deep instead of broadbased. The newer bags have the longest side running horizontally instead of vertically, and I think MSS is right, that their ability to fold up and reinforcing inserts for the bottom makes a huge difference. The cans and bottles fit better and stuff doesn’t get squashed.

The stores have better attitudes now, too. Dotted around the parking lot of my Austin grocery stores, signs remind you to bring in your green bags, the staff is practiced and some places sell a slightly more expensive ziptop version with insulation for cold food. That’s a real plus in Texas, where a January day like today can top 80 degrees.

Happy 2009, Hanna – tomato days will come again.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

]]> By: mss @ Zanthan Gardens http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html/comment-page-1#comment-5998 mss @ Zanthan Gardens Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:24:46 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2008/12/my-crazy-mixed-up-plastic-bags.html#comment-5998 I picked up the habit of reusable bags after visiting England. Here in Austin, Whole Foods offers a discount of 5 cents a bag if your bring your own. But reusables didn't really catch on until about a year ago when HEB gave away 20,000 bags to people who brought their plastics to trade. These foldable bags with a plastic bottom insert are much tougher and more capacious than any old plastic or paper bag. I first started using them to be green but now use them because they are by far the best way to get groceries home. I picked up the habit of reusable bags after visiting England. Here in Austin, Whole Foods offers a discount of 5 cents a bag if your bring your own. But reusables didn’t really catch on until about a year ago when HEB gave away 20,000 bags to people who brought their plastics to trade.

These foldable bags with a plastic bottom insert are much tougher and more capacious than any old plastic or paper bag. I first started using them to be green but now use them because they are by far the best way to get groceries home.

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