Comments on: Paper or plastic? http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/ Question As Conversation Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:26:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: middleclasstool http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2140 middleclasstool Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:16:50 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2140 We do all three, actually. We like to keep paper bags on hand to round up the paper recycling and plastic bags on hand for rounding up used diapers. Mostly we try to use the canvas bags, though, because it's more responsible (natch), and Kroger gives you five cents off your purchase for every bag you bring with you, whether it gets used or not. Target actually sells canvas bags that fold up to a package about the size of a 45 record and close with a snap, and when you unfold them, they're freaking huge. Weirdly enough, I can't find them on their website, but they are red and full of awesome. We do all three, actually. We like to keep paper bags on hand to round up the paper recycling and plastic bags on hand for rounding up used diapers. Mostly we try to use the canvas bags, though, because it’s more responsible (natch), and Kroger gives you five cents off your purchase for every bag you bring with you, whether it gets used or not.

Target actually sells canvas bags that fold up to a package about the size of a 45 record and close with a snap, and when you unfold them, they’re freaking huge. Weirdly enough, I can’t find them on their website, but they are red and full of awesome.

]]> By: robocop is bleeding http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2077 robocop is bleeding Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:28:16 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2077 Whole Foods/Trader Joes bags are worth their weight in if not gold, then certainly silver. Whole Foods/Trader Joes bags are worth their weight in if not gold, then certainly silver.

]]> By: Tube http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2068 Tube Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:33:06 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2068 Plastic. Re-used as incendiary insect munitions. Plastic.

Re-used as incendiary insect munitions.

]]> By: Marie Mon Dieu http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2066 Marie Mon Dieu Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:52:22 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2066 Plastic. I use them again for many things, including kitty waste. I used them to pack my snacks for my bus trip to the MeFi meet-up this past weekend, for instance (what fun! Cortex we did a shoutout to you!). I have a brightly-colored cloth sack in the kitchen to store them, but to tell the truth, I also have a pile underneath it. My folks always use paper bags, as they live in the country and they put old newspapers in the bags for recycling. I also save all my bottles for my neighbor so he can have pin money and use the plastic bags for that. Sometimes we get a paper bag for the cat, but recently we found a cat tunnel that sounds like a paper bag. Guess what? He likes the real ones better :::sigh::: Plastic. I use them again for many things, including kitty waste. I used them to pack my snacks for my bus trip to the MeFi meet-up this past weekend, for instance (what fun! Cortex we did a shoutout to you!). I have a brightly-colored cloth sack in the kitchen to store them, but to tell the truth, I also have a pile underneath it.

My folks always use paper bags, as they live in the country and they put old newspapers in the bags for recycling. I also save all my bottles for my neighbor so he can have pin money and use the plastic bags for that.

Sometimes we get a paper bag for the cat, but recently we found a cat tunnel that sounds like a paper bag. Guess what? He likes the real ones better :::sigh:::

]]> By: The corpse in the library http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2063 The corpse in the library Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:43:07 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2063 I take my canvas bags, take my canvas bags, take my canvas bags to the supermarket. I take my canvas bags, take my canvas bags, take my canvas bags to the supermarket.

]]> By: Saffron http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2062 Saffron Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:49:51 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2062 Plastic if I'm at Safeway (saves me from making the checker find the three paper bags in the whole store), paper if I'm at Whole Foods, unless it's raining. Then I take plastic. Whole Foods is converting to only paper bags on earth day. I feel a little weird about that, because I'm not entirely convinced that paper is the better environmental choice. It seems like if they wanted to do a big earth day sort of thing, they'd start charging for bags and not offer any for free. Plastic if I’m at Safeway (saves me from making the checker find the three paper bags in the whole store), paper if I’m at Whole Foods, unless it’s raining. Then I take plastic.

Whole Foods is converting to only paper bags on earth day. I feel a little weird about that, because I’m not entirely convinced that paper is the better environmental choice. It seems like if they wanted to do a big earth day sort of thing, they’d start charging for bags and not offer any for free.

]]> By: deborah http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2061 deborah Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:33:59 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2061 Plastic. They get used for cat poop and the rest are recycled at the grocery store. I don't know if our grocery store (Safeway) even offers paper bags. Plastic. They get used for cat poop and the rest are recycled at the grocery store. I don’t know if our grocery store (Safeway) even offers paper bags.

]]> By: iguana http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2060 iguana Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:31:06 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2060 (C) other: I bring reusable totes with me. But I only have a couple, so if there's overflow: Paper. I’ve always assumed they’re less harmful to the environment. Also, we use paper bags for recycling in these parts. (And if I get too many they get recycled.) They're also very useful to hold waste from construction projects, like when you're tearing down drywall and such. The plastic bags that I collect from other stores that don't offer a choice (and from the grocery store when they insist on wrapping odd items in them) I use for dog poop and trash can liners. (C) other: I bring reusable totes with me. But I only have a couple, so if there’s overflow:

Paper. I’ve always assumed they’re less harmful to the environment. Also, we use paper bags for recycling in these parts. (And if I get too many they get recycled.) They’re also very useful to hold waste from construction projects, like when you’re tearing down drywall and such.

The plastic bags that I collect from other stores that don’t offer a choice (and from the grocery store when they insist on wrapping odd items in them) I use for dog poop and trash can liners.

]]> By: Josh Millard http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2059 Josh Millard Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:19:34 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2059 We use both; plastic gets used as secondary-trashcan liners (we use some Hefty bags for the main kitchen trash, which makes it easier to empty the smaller bins into it when its time to take it down), and paper gets used for storing up recyclables before we take <i>those</i> down. We use both; plastic gets used as secondary-trashcan liners (we use some Hefty bags for the main kitchen trash, which makes it easier to empty the smaller bins into it when its time to take it down), and paper gets used for storing up recyclables before we take those down.

]]> By: never used baby shoes http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2058 never used baby shoes Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:14:30 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2058 I use re-useable cloth bags primarily. If I don't have those with me, plastic - I need them for dog poop. I use re-useable cloth bags primarily. If I don’t have those with me, plastic - I need them for dog poop.

]]> By: Valette http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2056 Valette Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:55:50 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2056 Plastic. The ones that don't get used as trash bags or dog-poop bags get turned back in at the store for recycling. Plastic. The ones that don’t get used as trash bags or dog-poop bags get turned back in at the store for recycling.

]]> By: gaspode http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2055 gaspode Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:18:56 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2055 I *try* to carry a tote back or backpack so I don't need to get a bag at all. Otherwise, plastic, to use for trash later. I *try* to carry a tote back or backpack so I don’t need to get a bag at all. Otherwise, plastic, to use for trash later.

]]> By: jmd82 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2054 jmd82 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:26:30 +0000 http://bigbigquestion.com/2008/04/08/paper-or-plastic/#comment-2054 Plastic. I've always assumed they're less harmful to the environment, though I've never researched it or anything. More importantly, they make great garbage and recycling bags. Don't think I've ever bought trash can liners. Plastic. I’ve always assumed they’re less harmful to the environment, though I’ve never researched it or anything. More importantly, they make great garbage and recycling bags. Don’t think I’ve ever bought trash can liners.

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