No more 'free' plastic grocery bags
 

Has double-bagging become the new double-dipping?

This year, Canadians will face a range of incentives — from municipal bans to grocery store fees — aimed at coaxing them to rethink how they carry their shopping, as governments follow a global trend to divert billions of plastic bags away from landfills.

Opponents say the polyethylene bags are an ugly blight on the landscape and over-consumption of a product made with a non-renewable resource, while advocates say they are highly recyclable, play an important role in food safety and are more hygienic when used as rubbish bin liners.

While 2008 began with some companies, municipalities and even the country of China banning plastic bags, by the end of the year another idea had emerged: Fees as an incentive for shoppers to start bringing their own reusable bags.

Once people stop accepting plastic bags they become aware of other consumer packaging and they change their habits, insisting on less plastic and buying more whole foods, says a spokeswoman for the world's largest natural-food retailer.

"It's hard for people to remember to bring their own bags. I always carry a cloth bag in my purse," said Vicki Foley, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods and Capers in Vancouver.
http://www.theprovince.com/news/story.html?id=1132284

funny. this comes right after we get a notice saying recycling services have been canceled untill further notice due to a global surplus of recyclables. we cant recycle anything other than cardboard and refundable containers now.

I, for one, support the idea of paying for plastic bags. I paid 15c per bag when I did my grocery shopping in Dublin and I made conscious decisions to avoid using so many plastic bags as a result.

I know pretty much all grocery stores don't charge but hasn't Superstore been charging for bags for years now?

i sometimes have extra plastic bags in my car so i just use that if i go grocery shopping

Don't most people reuse their plastic bags anyways? It's not like we throw the bags in the garbage when we bring our groceries home. I use them as garbage bags in different garbage bins around the house. I could use re-usable grocery bags, but then what would I use to hold my garbage? I would have to buy my own plastic garbage bags. So what the hell is the difference? Instead of Safeway paying for bags, I have to pay for them now? That's retarded.

i usually bring my own bag. if you lead by example, others will follow.
not a big deal. but better than nothing

The bags are already paid for as part of your cost for items shopping there, it's one of the operating costs factored into the price.

This is a sin tax.

i just reuse the bags :thumbsup:

yes that is a good point. I only throw away the plastic bags if it's filled up with garbage. They are very useful to use especially in the kitchen or the washroom garbage cans.

I th9ink over 90% ppl do this. I can't see how china town/crystal mall/ T&T will start charging for plastic bags since all the chinese will be complaniining. Besdie if they start charing I will still pay for the bags and use it for garbage bags. If the gov truly want us to use cloth bags give everyone $100 cheque to buy them.

T&T has started using bio degradable plastic bags. I personally use those bags i got from Vancouver Auto Show last year =)

:lol noone is gonna buy them with that $. Everyone is gonna spend it on drugs or gas like they did with the carbon tax

Superstore has been charging for plastic bags for a long time now.

Haha my mom does that too. Especially the Hyundai and Jeep tote bags.

Superstore bags are so small and thin. People rip them all the time XD

Everyone reuses plastic shopping bags as garbage bags

Good point, never though of that myself.

I for one decline on plastic bags as much as I can. If it's an amount I can carry to the car or in my everyday bag, then I'll do that.

T&T bags are bio-degradeable... so i hear

That's all fine and dandy for women who can walk around with a little cloth bag stashed in their purses... what are all the straight non-murse carrying men supposed to do? Walk around with a freaking canvas bag rolled up in our hands everywhere just in case we need to buy something??

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

We have tons of those black re-usable grocery bags at home... problem with us is... we bring them to the store, use them, bring back into the house, but we never remember to put them back in the car or are just too lazy. Then when the odd day we decide we want to pick up groceries quickly while we were already out, we have no bags...Boo

but where will i get my doggie poo bags from?

what about the bags that are at the self-serve express?

we always re-use our grocery plastic bags no matter what.. just use them for garbage bags around the house..

plastic bag should be a dollar each. I always have some spare bags in my car