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Bag It, Baby - 5 cents per bag in DC

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass Real Estate SP98362422

Ok, friends... We've all been there... You pull into the grocery store parking lot, find a spot, lock the car, get inside, start shopping away, arrive in line to pay and.... Not again! The reuseable shopping bags are still in the trunk!!!

Well, in DC, grocery stores are beginning to charge 5 cents per plastic bag to customers who have not brought reuseable ones with them. So, what's a shopper to do?

1. Go ahead and buy some good bright, flat-bottomed reuseable bags and keep them in the car.

2. Try writing a note on your grocery list to remind yourself to bring bags inside with you, until this becomes a habit.

3. Be glad you are doing your part to be less wasteful! *

* When I traveled to Nice, France 2  years ago, I did some grocery shopping and did not have bags with me. They did not have cheap 5 cent bags (ok... cheap in Euros...). Instead, customers had to buy heavy duty bags that cost around $3 each (US)... Someday, we may be there - and I don't think that is a bad thing! Around here, we don't need even one more plastic bag to end up in the Chesapeake Bay. For more, see the blog below:

www.facebook.com/chesapeakebay

Posted by

Ellie Shorb, Realtor, Compass, 240-338-8919 Licensed in DC, MD, VA

A luxury home specialist specializing in exemplary client care, professionalism & privacy.

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Craig Bynum
First Choice Loan Service - Charlotte, NC
The Get it Done Lender

I agree it is not that hard to furnish your own bags.  A little effort can go a long way for the future of the planet.

Feb 05, 2010 06:26 AM
Michael A. Caruso
Surterre Properties - Laguna Niguel, CA

I think that's a great idea. It will definitely help you remember to bring the cloth bags. I wish we had thought of that idea years ago.

I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors           

Feb 05, 2010 06:29 AM
Ellie Shorb
Compass Real Estate - Chevy Chase, MD
Realtor DC, MD & VA Luxury Home Expert

Will do Michael!

Craig: It is my kids (and kids everywhere) that cannot understand the wastefulness we grew up with... Honestly, it is a matter of awareness... as soon as one is made aware of an issue they were once blind to, they then have an obligation to make changes based on the new information/awareness that they now possess... This is what's great about life... We can learn, change, and improve as we go!

Feb 05, 2010 06:38 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Ellie ~ I've definitely become sensitized to how many plastic bags come into my house.  I save them and reuse them and bring the torn ones to the store to recycle.

I've never got my head around all the bags they sell in the stores.  I have a huge collection of cloth totes from real estate conferences and from buying the big bag's worth of books at the local bookstores.  No grocery store bag for me.

Liz

Feb 05, 2010 02:20 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

They've been doing this in Europe for years, I figured it would happen here eventually.

Feb 05, 2010 03:49 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Ellie, I think that one impact is that people are only buying whatever fits into the two or three bags they have with them!  I've noticed that grocery carts are not as full.  Of course, my only problem with all this is that I don't have many plastic bags around for doggie walks!

Feb 06, 2010 01:38 AM
Ellie Shorb
Compass Real Estate - Chevy Chase, MD
Realtor DC, MD & VA Luxury Home Expert

Patricia: I too, have a pooch... We save the plastic sleeves from our newspapers for the puppy *$@!*&% and they work great for this purpose. I wonder if carts aren't as full because of the # of reuseable bags or because so many folks have less $ to spend. I suspect, a bit of both! Stay warm and keep bloggin! Fondly, Ellie

Feb 06, 2010 02:50 AM