How often do you use reusable shopping bags?

We (meaning my mom and I, since we shop together) always use reusable shopping bags. I started using them simply because my mom used them. They're great though, especially the canvas ones. They're really strong and spacious, and you can actually get really cute ones that you won't feel stupid carrying around. The regular plastic bags were always rubbish for us because we don't drive and have to carry all our shopping home! A lot of supermarkets here have started charging you for plastic bags, to encourage more and more people to use the reusable ones. I think it's a good idea. At our local supermarket, if you do manage to damage one of the "Bags for Life" you've bought from there they'll replace it for free. A bookstore here has one with purple stars on it; I plan to buy it when i'm in town on Wednesday.

I rarely use them. I actually put them all in one place and take them back to recycle. There's so many bags!

I use them in both my bathrooms fro trash can liners. They are the perfect size for smaller garbage cans. Keeps the garbage cans clean and fresh. And you can stash spares in the bottom!! You are also saving on your budget by not buying small trash can liners.

I have been using the canvas bags for about 6 months now. I also re-use the plastic bags from the grocery store as well. I re-use for the groceries and other things around the house. My cupboard was also getting packed full of bags and I did not want to throw them away. I did end up using alot of them. Some of the grocery stores have a box/bin to deposit old bags, some of the grocery stores will use your old bags to re- bag your groceries and some even pay 5 cents for each bags they re-use. Sometimes I forget to bring my own bags and the clerks who bag up my groceries really bag the groceries poorly. They only put just a few items in a bag and I end up with about 15-20 bags when they could have probably used less than ten. Those plastic bags can hold alot if you just place the items in them correctly. I used to work at a grocery store and these guys are just being lazy, instead of having to think about placement they are just throwing things into a bag. Big items like laundry detergent and gallon of milk, dog food should never even be in a bag unless requested. I usually ask to bag up my own items and this really saves on bags. I now leave my re-usable bags in my car so I always have with me.

I live in a apt complext that didn't bother to accomodate parking for residents so my garage is out on the south 40...so I carry bags to and from my car all the time with stuff. I am usually with a little child and you know the stash they need! I usd to use the plastic ones, and then I started using gift bags. I have several and the girls (GD's) really like their "stuff" to be in a cute gift bag so that works really well. But not much for anything of weight. So inknowing I was going to have to keep doing this and had it figured out an easy way, I did buy some of the 99 cent canvas bags at Target, and they are okay, but I got some at Walgreens for 99 cents the other day and they are about twice as heavy/strong holding as the Target ones, so I use them for my trips back and forth to the car. I always have one in the car ...never know when I am going to need one! And sure enough if I dont have one...I will need it! But with the thing in the news about the plastic bag and recycling and that plastic not bio-degradable and the govt doing something about cutting back o that plastic nad grocery stores not allowed to use them anymore (don't know the story on this, just heard bits and pieces on the news) they are trying to go back to paper bags and these canvas bags. Some stores out here in CA now charge for the plastic bags, so you bring your own - plastic or canvas.

Starting to use them more and more. A few stores in my area offer them for purchase and they are really quite convenient. My bigger problem is to remember to keep them in my car.

I use them every time I shop. I got some great ones at Target that fold up into a small pouch, so I can keep them in the glove box of the car. Even the baggers have asked where I got them, and they want some. They're only about half the price of the ones in the grocery store. I realized long ago that each individual must do everything possible to make the world a better place. Something as simple as using these bags makes a difference in Global Warming and waste. The handles make it easier to carry them than plastic or paper bags, too.

I reuse the plastic bags as liners for my small garbage.

I've started using reusable shopping bags just last month! I discovered that I could save a fortune by just using stronger , affordable and reusable other than plastic bags that cost R0.25 or more depending on the size. Before I had this revelation (LOL) I used to use about 6 to 8 plastic bags per shopping spree (especially grocery shopping), that's about R2.00 now saved every time I go shopping. That's really big considering the dropping rate in South Africa, the little you save makes a huge difference!

I started using them as a small attempt to be environmentally friendly, though I do a lot of other things that make that seem hypocritical. But anyway, I figure that even a small change is good. Most of the grocery stores, and other large stores such as Walmart and Target, have bags for sale, usually for 99 cents. My problem is that I forget to bring them, and end up buying more, or using plastic. The fabric bags really do hold more, and I find that when unloading groceries, they cut my trips from car to house in half.

I mind all the cellophane, shopping bags, paper bags, and all other kinds of bags a store has for their customers. I keep them for my garbage use or for something that I need when I go out. They're very helpful to me, especially for my garbage stuff, it's costly if I buy garbage cellophane so I always make use of those I get from stores.

i have the habot if keeping plastic bags for future usage as to my trash and others.. as to paper bags i reuse it as long as i can...hehehe..until it worn out...poor bag...

I use them occasionally but not as much as I should. However, if I go shopping and I can fit the item into another bag that I have, I'll forgo the shopping bag they offer me. Also, if I'm only buying one or two items that can easily be carried, I will also forgo the bag. I hope even these small acts will still help. I do still use all the shopping bags I get for lining the garbage cans at home. Why pay of bags when you can use the ones you get at the shops. I don't understand why all shops just don't hand out biodegradable bags if they're so concerned with the environment.

I started using it recently, accoring to the government requirement and also it is for enviroment protection. Just i should remind me to take it with me, maybe once we have formed the habit of using reusable shopping bags, we'll feel it is so natural a thing and can proctect the enviroment, why not do it?

Well, I use reusable bags all of the time for carrying things in. But I have never taken them into Grocery stores though. I know a lot of people are tending to resort to these though, and some Grocery stores are even starting to sell them if you want to use those instead. Some stores are even thinking of going back to paper over plastic here in our area as well. The plastic is bad for the environment, and like you have stated, they can also get holes in them. So I guess it is always a matter of choice as well.

We have used reusable shopping bags forever as far as i can remember. There is nothing bad in them. Only good, they don't break down and you don't have to waste nature. We still sometimes use plastic bags. We have forgotten to take the bags with us and had to bought plastic bags. Also sometimes all our stuff wont fit in our 2 reusable bags so we always carry few plastic bags with us.

i collect reusable shopping bags so many reasons. One of which is to somehow join the "bandwagon" of being eco-friendly. Second, I make use of them when I go to the supermarket. Third, if the shopping bag is not that appealing, I use it for my garbage.

It was my grandma's practice to use ratan-woven basket when she goes to market. Now that department stores and supermarkets are practicing using reusable plastic bags, I would use their bags when I shop in their places but the SM green bag is not that durable so most of the time, I carry my own shopping bags. I also prefer carrying big bags when I go out so I could just put everything I buy in there instead of carrying small plastic or paper bags.

I use grocery bags for garbage. For starters, the garbage bags you get need to be tied and have wide openings on top that have to be closed. A grocery bag has handles you can use for tying together and are not huge so they are more manageable. I collect all my grocery bags and so never run out of garbage bags. I do keep other bags if they are exceptionally good like for the market or moving things around but the grocery bag thing is very popular in Trinidad. Endless people do this over here.

I can't remeber the date I began to use resuable bags now ,but Iam quite sure that it at least last for one years.It's good for environment and enhance the quity of our life.Now the use of plasti bags has been banned by the government of my country for the improve of enverionment condition.I appricate it ,and always try to persuade people around me to use reusable bags as me.