Bring Own Grocery Bags – But You’ll Still Get Plastic
I have a rant about a recent grocery trip – a short one too (the grocery trip, not the rant). I brought in 2 of my own recycled bags (I shop according to how many bags I bring in) to use for the few groceries I was buying. When I finally arrived to the checkout counter, I put my recycled bags on the conveyor belt along with my discount card. Then I proceeded to place my few items on the belt and waited until the cashier was ready to take my money.
Now for most of the cashiers who recognize me, know that I am insistent upon “NO Plastic Bags” are to be used to bag my groceries. The only exception to this is when I have fresh meat and its juices are leaking, and the bagger then asks “Do you mind if I put this in a plastic bag?”
The bagger who was bagging my groceries was obviously either new or negligent still used 2 plastic bags – WITHOUT ASKING – for my groceries! I was so peeved by the time I left the line that I was half inclined to take my bags back to the young man and tell him what I thought about his bagging style! However, due to the impending winter storm, I didn’t.
The high school kid used one bag for 2 packages of steak, which were not leaking anything and one carton of eggs, which were left outside my recycled grocery bags. I was fuming!
If you are of many grocery shoppers who bring their own recylced grocery bags, please ensure you explicitly tell your cashier AND bagger that you do NOT want any plastic bags used. It is obviously the only way to put these inept kids in their place and make them aware of the importance of keeping plastic bags out of the landfills, waterways and our homes!
Tags: green living, plastic bags, recycled grocery bags
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January 19, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Was just looking around your blog. You’ve got lots of useful posts. I’m also in the Cleveland area and my hubby was in the Navy. I’ll be back
February 2, 2009 at 8:52 am
Oh, I absolutely HATE when they do that. I mean, did you not see the bags that I put RIGHT THERE…IN FRONT OF the groceries? C’mon! Everybody working in a store (not just a supermarket) should be well aware of the plastic strike–most stores sell their own bags–so, I’m not quite sure why I have to ask so often (except in Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s) that they “please use the bags I brought.” It’s a bit annoying. I even had one lady who took the plastic bags of things and put it inside my recycled bags—um, NO THANKS, TRY AGAIN!
February 6, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Thank you, ACJ, for acknowledging those clerks who do not know better. I love Trader Joe’s! And when I say I have my own bags, I get to fill out a ticket for their daily drawing! Awesome! More stores should encourage customers to bring their own shopping bag as well as reward them like Trader Joe’s!