Comments on: Misc: Temescal Tabling, Environmental Ethics, & Plastic Pick Up

By: Mich

Mich — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:47:00 +0000

Beth, your blog has REALLY gotten me noticing the plastic in my life…and it kinda repulses me. I have purchased a set of canning jars for food storage, and I’m working on more lifestyle changes.

Martin, I live in the midwest, and while it’s cool to bring your own bags to Trader Joe’s, Wild Oats and Aldi’s, when I bring my bags to a big box store they do look at me like I have two heads. It also screws them up because they all have those bag carousels now, which makes it awkward to fill any other sort of bag. But they deal.

As for if I don’t need a bag-I just say, “I don’t need a bag for that.”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:58:00 +0000

Hi Beth! I want to let yo u know I really appreciate your efforts to reduce plastic use! Your farm market adventure sounds like a really good idea, too! Do you know about morsbags? http://www.morsbags.com I make them and take them to my local farm market and give them to vendors to use in place of plastic bags. Of course, I can’t keep up with the demand, but it has been fun, and encouraging to see people actually bringing them back and re-using them! Peace, Lorena

By: Radical Garbage Man

Radical Garbage Man — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:41:00 +0000

I’m rather encouraged by the gas station convenience store near my house. They don’t generally offer bags if you’ve only got a couple of items and if you’ve got more, they specifically ask “do you need a bag?”

I don’t know if this is nascent corporate environmentalism, nickel and diem cost-cutting or laziness on the part of the staff, but I appreciate it nonetheless!

By: Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank

Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:37:00 +0000

Hi Martin. Does it help to be proactive by putting your own bag on the counter and saying right away, “Thanks. I’ll use my own bag. I don’t need a new one?”

Of course, if you forgot to bring your own bag, you might get funny looks when you carry stuff out in your hands. But what are a few funny looks? Maybe if you do it enough times, they’ll start to get it.

By: Rejin L

Rejin L — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:45:00 +0000

Martin, I think we have to learn to live with the look. In my neighborhood I may still be the only no-bagger, but the supermarket clerks are getting used to me. This weekend, though, I was challenged for the first time, by clerks at two clothing stores. One even escorted me to the door to explain to Security that she tried to give me a bag, but I refused. Very helpful of her.
We just have to be firm and hope that everyone catches on before too long. Or better yet, try to jump start a ban in our cities or communities. I love the way Beth is working to spread the word, both at the Farmer’s Market and online.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:06:00 +0000

You live in a place where retailers are unlikely to be surprised by lifestyle choices like not wanting a plastic bag. I would be interested to hear stories from people like me who get looked at as if they have two heads.

What is an expedient expression that you can use in order to not get a plastic bag and also not get a socially awkward moment?