Cat poop, But I also use other containers for that purpose, which I should be recycling, like empty boxes from popcorn, or cake mixes, or yes, even empty cat food bags.
Yep. Alameda county banned them as of January 1, in most cases (Subway is still using them, for instance). You can either buy a paper bag at a grocery store for 10 cents, bring your own (non-paper) bag, or carry things by hand.
They’re saying you can’t re-use paper bags because of sanitation issues (can’t wash paper bags), which is kind of ironic, to me, on account of you CAN wash plastic bags. Go figure.
I used them as trash bags when I was broke, but they never really fit and would fall all the way into the bin when I put in something heavy. They also were unreliable, as many had holes; I had to carefully examine the seam to assure that wet trash wouldn’t leak. I hated them, and now I buy trash bags that are strong and the proper size. I use the handful of paper bags that I get to carry out the recycling, and I keep a few plastic grocery bags for wrapping up messy things. The majority go in the trash.
I’m in San Francisco, so I’ve taken to using clear plastic produce bags as my small trash can liners.
I miss the plastic grocery bags sometimes, but I’m pretty acclimated to having cloth bags when I go shopping now.
We have a bin where we keep them. All our trash cans are lined with them.
I use them as mentioned, for small wastebasket liners, cat litter, carrying things to work/school/grandma’s house.
For filling space in boxes to be mailed.
For lining the bottom of my vegetable drawer - makes goo clean up easier - one layer plastic bag, one layer paper towel. When something inevitably turns into a science experiment, the paper towel absorbs most of the goo and keeps it off the other veggies, while the plastic bag prevents the paper towel from sticking to the plastic bin, and provides quick and easy clean up.
For keeping in my pocket to pick up litter when I’m going for a walk.
For my company’s mandatory “clean bag technique” - when visiting a patient in their home, I put down a disposable chuck to put my bag and tools on, and everything gets alcohol wiped as I put it away. The chuck and alcohol wipes go into a plastic bag and I carry it out for disposal. So that’s 20 or so plastic bags a week right there.
I’ve got it down to a pretty good equilibrium. Aldi, we bring bags 'cause they charge. Whole Foods, we bring bags 'cause it’s part of the culture (although we hardly ever shop there). Cermak Grocery and Mariano’s and Walmart and Target, I take their plastic bags to replenish my stock. Target bags are the best, least prone to holes, and generally reserved for kitty litter.
If/when they ban plastic bags, I’ll just have to buy the smallest trashbags, so it won’t actually reduce my plastic bag waste, but I still support the effort because I know lots of people don’t reuse all their bags.
Use um for lots of stuff. If they get outlawed, I’ll just buy a big roll of them.
They are routinely carried on dog walks around here for poop pick-up and disposal.
The Law of Unintended Consequences suggests that if they are banned, fewer pet owners will pick up after their beasts.
I haven’t bough a single trash bag since I moved out of my parent’s house 11 years ago. Since I live by myself and only have small garbage containers I only use grocery bags.
I use them to store craft supplies, finished crafts, and other things, and yes, I do use them for garbage as well.
Plastic grocery bags are becoming rarer here, though.
Yes - if I didn’t use plastic carrier bags to line the small bin outside the kitchen, I’d have to buy bin liners - at least this way, something’s getting used twice.
I reuse the bags, but I want only the ones with NO holes in the bottom. My daughter makes fun of me because I inspect the bags, and the keepers get rolled tightly to be stashed in the Bag Drawer. Out of control Bag Drawers offend my sense of order.
Holey bags are great packing material! Use for shipping, or to store those fragile Christmas ornaments, they wad up nicely and provide great cushioning.
I’ve also used plastic bags as impromptu gloves when I have to pick up something extremely nasty–which is also a reason why I don’t like the ones with holes in the bottom!
~VOW
We live in the environment, hence its concerns are forced upon all of us.
Anyway, I don’t use anything but ex-shopping plastic bags for trash. I try to avoid picking them up, but as the city’s got pretty decent at recycling, and I compost what I can, I have a fairly impressive backlog now, as I do tend to call in at shops unplanned, and don’t always have a reusable bag.
Before the plastic bag tax was introduced here you used to see far more plastic bags floating in the wind or in rivers or just on the ground.
I use them and love them. I wonder how biodegradable they are?
Mine get used three times. first, taking groceries home, then to haul the daily recycling, then finally to pick up dog poop.
I use them all the time for garbage liners and carrying my lunch and all kinds of stuff. If they were outlawed here, I would just buy a box of them from Uline or something. Not only would I be back to single use, but those are thicker, which would mean they use more resources.
It is possible to buy biodegradable plastic t-shirt bags, but the ones that most stores use are not biodegradable. They’ll break down, eventually, but not for a very long time. And in the meantime, they make an unsightly mess.
I reuse the bags from Kroger and Walmart at Aldi, then I’ll use them in the cans or to store toy bits and pieces.
I do use them as liners for small trash cans in the bathroom. When I run out I just put newspaper in the bottom of the can. Usually bringing my own bags to the store.
I think San Fran sets a great example with it’s recycling and composting rates.
Michigan is stuck on the bottle return law, people think it’s “recycling”. It’s BS. Just take ALL your recyclables to one convenient location. I would rather throw my returnables i the recycling bin, than haul them back to where I bought them. I know Detroit would rather burn everything then mandate recycling. I think they call it waste to energy…nicely incinerated for your breathing pleasure.