How many times have your groceries been loaded into plastic bags, only to have the bag split and the jar of mayonnaise drop and break on the driveway? By the way, why is it always the mayonnaise that breaks? It's got to be the hardest thing to clean up...
Many of my favorite stores, at least in my area, are now offering an inexpensive alternative to the "Paper or Plastic" question.

Resuable Shopping Bags
Walgreens was the first place I noticed resuable shopping bags for sale. I picked up enough for all my groceries - at $.99 each, they weren't a bad investment, and I figured it was the only way to stop all the plastic bags that fall out of my cupboard every time I open it. I hate to throw them away, so I save them... for something.
I stuck the bags into the door pocket of my car, and now every time I open the door, I'm reminded to take them in the store with me. By the way, I found the bags at the Apex Walgreens - ask for their terrific store manager, Tate Moorefield, if you can't find them!
Look at that sky - what a GORGEOUS winter day we're having here in beautiful Raleigh, NC!

Bonus Programs Offered by Retailers
Lowe's Foods was the second place I saw them, in the Holly Springs store. There's even a bonus - they'll give you 50 greenpoints for every bag you bring in and reuse. But you may have to remind the cashier, seems like they're early in the training process.
My local store has gone from a small mention of bags to multiple displays at every register. There's no signs, but I'm told they all cost $1.00.
I'm sure there's a lot of savings to the retailers for less use of paper and plastic - after all, these bags are big, they're strong, and no double bagging is necessary.

Can I get that SuperSized?
Now my friend has just come back from the North Raleigh Costco and brought back a gigantic resuable bag! This one has a more "tent-like" feel to the material, but appears strong enough to hold at least some Costco size items. And at only $1.00 for this bag, it's a deal. Just might need to watch the weight limits a little.
The bag on the right is from Walgreens.
If you've seen reusable shopping bags anywhere else, can you share the cost and the quality, as well as any "bonus" programs for using bags, like the Greenpoints program at Lowe's?
I wonder how long it will be before these types bags are used as promotional or fundraiser awareness items...
And if you're interested in other environmental products available in Triangle area homes for sale, you may want to check out these articles on Rainwater Collection Systems, Greywater Reclamation, Solar Lighting, Tankless Water Heaters, and High Efficiency Toilets.
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Penny, I have 12 of them, one I purchased in the late 70s at a grocery store in Virginia. Back then was the birth of the environmental movement. Its taken 30 long years for people to "get the picture". However, even though the bags are cheap and found everywhere, I never see anyone other than myself using them )-: What will it take to get people to wake up in this country? All over Europe, if you shop in a store you pay for the plastic bag or bring your own.