In the interests of the environment on Thursday this week none of the local supermarkets will be giving free plastic bags in which to pack shopping. We have to bring our own bags. It should be interesting.

What happens about recycling in your area?

We don't have free plastic bags in shops anymore. If you want one, you can buy one for 10-25 cents. Most people however bring their own shopping bags.

When I was in the UK and in Australia I was shocked to see how many plastic bags were being used! They didn't even ask me if I wanted one, they simply assumed and started packing my groceries for me. Every time I declared that I really didn't want a plastic bag because I had brought a rucksack, I got the funniest looks.

In Australia they kept asking me to open my rucksack upon leaving the store, which was very annoying. It's not very encouraging to bring your own bag when you have to open it and show it all the time. Here we almost never have to open our bags. Everybody has one, it would take too much time!

I find it very annoying that while some countries (like e.g. Germany) are trying very very hard to be environmentally friendly other countries are ruining the entire positive effect by wasting plastic bags. It would be a good start if they'd ASK you if you want one, instead of giving you one even if you only buy a box of matches.

Well we have 'no bag days ' and it seems to be working
Hong Kong was the worst place for plastic bag use. You cannot leave the store without paying as you go through a gate that makes a noise if something wasn't scanned. You have to pay for bags from the store if you didnt bring one. It may be gradually dawning on people.

Phew, when I read the title to this thread I was afraid it meant that I'd not be allowed out of the house that day!

Good one Skunkee!

Our grocery stores push plastic bags, which I detest because everything tips out of them on the way home and they are a major inconvenience to recycle. You aren't encouraged to bring your own in because the have them all set up on a carousel apparatus, and keep loading in a circle.

One store does offer paper bags, if you ask, but the make you feel as if you have violated one of the Ten Commandments! I like them because I put all of my used magazines in them to haul to the recycling center and then recycle the paper bags.

All the stores here have bins outside to recycle plastic bags - very convenient. I prefer paper because, as you said bullyb1, they are sturdier, and they fit as a liner in the wastebasket under my sink. Love the line overheard in the grocery store: "Paper or plastic, Sir?" And he answers, "Oh either, I'm bi-saxual."

Several years ago the Worldwide Fund for Nature started a campaign with the local food stores here in my part of France to sell large reusable carrying bags with handles. Now these can be found in most of the larger stores - in some it is all that is available. You have to pay for a bag initially, but you can take it back whenever it breaks and the store will replace it and recycle the old one. I have a couple that are now at least two years old and still going strong. They fold well and hold quite a bit. It is a good system.

They started making us pay for bags in grocery stores here about 2 years ago. At first people hated it but eveyone has got used to the idea. Either you bring your own or pay for a new one. I keep 5 or 6 folded up in my bag so always have one handy.

The joke is that the grocery stores are now making a profit from the bags - before they were a direct cost the the store.

The best thing about charging is there is a huge improvement in the number of 'national flowers' floating around in the rural areas. They used to look like a garbage dump at times.

Looking at the local dump, the whole world HAS to recycle or we will be living amoungst the garbage one of these days.

I hope it works out on Thursday Sue.

In Australia now, not sure about anywhere else, we have a huge range of those cotton bags, that you buy for about $3.00 and you take them shopping with you. They're actually quite common, not just in supermarkets.

Many other stores, including our fashion stores, now give you cotton bags when you purchase items there and they tell you to bring them back and re-use them.

The cotton bags vary in style and colour; depending really on where your shopping, but they're even using them to market other brands, like The Wiggles ones! Sad thing is... I just bought one of the Wiggles ones

There is a shop here in the UK that sells long-life bags, they cost 50p each and if they do happen to split you can take it back to the shop and have it replaced. They are much bigger and sturdier then carrier bags. I have half a dozen of them that I take to the supermarket every week. I have noticed though that very very few people here take their own bags, I can't understand it, apart from the environmental factor, supermarket bags are useless, who hasn't had one split on them and ended up with their shopping all over the floor and they cut into your hands, ouch!
I say, do away with carrier bags altogether, that way people HAVE to take their own bags.

The longlife bags they gave us are brilliant, this is one. The red straps are canvas, in fact all the red lines are canvas. I bet people are using them for all sorts, they would make great beach bags too. That one is ready for me to take to recycle the newspapers.

Our supermarkets also sell cloth bags. They are square (almost a cube) with 2 strong handles and you can pack them full of cold drinks, bottles or cans and they dont break.

People use them for all sorts of things. I use mine to put my food in when we go away in the caravan, go to the beach or take stuff to friends. They realy are a great invention and cost me a whole R5.00 (less than a US$).

I thought the whole idea was stupid at first but now can see the benefits. I also thought we were the only ones doing this.

I like your bags Sue.

They are great, I use mine for days out at the beach too. Brilliant invention

When the plastic grocery bags were first popular, I remember the stores asking if we wanted paper or plastic. Nowadays, they automatically put it all in plastic unless you speak up for paper. And in some stores, paper isn't even an option anymore.

The big difference between the US and other countries is that in the US, we shop for a week or two or more at a time versus buying for one or two meals. When I go shopping, I usually have at least 10 or more bags full of groceries.

And Leau, as for the stores asking to see inside your rucksack each time, you're lucky they just asked to see inside. I will walk instead of drive to stores if they are within a mile or so from each other and if I have a purchase from one store and walk into another store with that bag in hand, there have been times I've been asked to leave that bag at the register or not to bring it in. We Americans are so distrustful, or I guess I just look like I'm going to steal them blind. And I get strange looks because I will walk with my purchases instead of putting them into a car and driving next door to the next shop! Come to think of it, I need to get a back like yours, Sue.

I think one of the big differences between the Netherlands and the US is that a lot of people here go shopping by bike. You can't leave your purchases from previous stored on your bike or they'll be gone by the time you come back. So stores have gotten used to people bringing stuff in. Although I have to say that I wouldn't bring an entire bag of groceries into a supermarket if it wasn't absolutely necessary.

As for shopping for two weeks in advance (which usually isn't done by bike here ), what most people here do is have a few foldable crates in the back of the car. You fill your shopping cart, pay for your groceries, take the cart to the car and load everything in the crates. No plastic bags necessary.

ONe thing I admit I enjoy is the supermarket with box boys or girls. It's such a pleasure to have them accompany you to the car and it's giving these kids a great first job.
Most of them refuse tips in my area...I've tried!

I've noticed that when I get paper bags, the helpers don't rip them. It is only when I get home that they rip!

The local place is giving a new kind out with a string handle and they're wonderful.
You can put your recycled papers and material in them.

The only way you'll get Americans to use paper bags, or cloth ones is by giving them an incentive. Some places used to give a discount.