# These rectangular canvas bags at the grocery stores to replace plastic and paper. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952 "2009-11-17T20:57:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/41 "2009-11-19T05:08:26Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > They are better I guess, until you buy more groceries than you can fit into your 1-2 bags, and you have to buy another one. Or you regularly fill 1 bag so that is all you bring, and suddenly you buy 2 bags worth of stuff. Every summer festival I go to has free bags being given away by different booths. I just pick up one here and there. For a family of 4, I usually have about 3 bags filled. I’ve never used more than 6 bags in a trip, and that was a Costco run. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/42 "2009-11-19T05:12:39Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Every summer festival I go to has free bags being given away by different booths. I just pick up one here and there. For a family of 4, I usually have about 3 bags filled. I’ve never used more than 6 bags in a trip, and that was a Costco run. I want a free bag… :mad: ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/43 "2009-11-19T05:58:42Z")
One thing bugs me about those bags whether the canvas or net bags. We reuse those cheap plastic bags from the grocery store for garbage bags. I wonder if people are now buying garbage bags because they no longer get them free with their groceries. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/44 "2009-11-19T06:09:17Z")
No, when I need more cheapo disposable bags I just make a shopping trip without my reusables to get more of them. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/45 "2009-11-19T12:20:57Z")
Here, people are charged for the disposable plastic bags (it’s the law, to discourage litter). Is this the case overseas? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/46 "2009-11-19T13:01:44Z")
The only store I know that does that is Aldi’s. At least one local store gives you a discount if you bring your own bags. Of course, the customer always pays for the bag, but usually indirectly with the cost absorbed into the store overhead. ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/47 "2009-11-19T13:40:29Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Here, people are charged for the disposable plastic bags (it’s the law, to discourage litter). Is this the case overseas? Where is here? In Holland if you want plastic grocery bags you can buy them at the register for a dime or so each. Most of the family grocery shopping is done with a bigger, reusable bag which looks like [this](http://www.distrifood.nl/upload/80aa135c-45d4-4662-b629-fb4776d61dd1_0_Jumbo-tas.280.jpg). These can be bought at the register but I don’t know anyone who ever bought one, as they are also given away more or less regularly. Or you can go to the end of the register and get one of the boxes they put there after stocking shelves which are free and much handier for the bike, I have never seen paper grocery bags here. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/48 "2009-11-19T13:48:49Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I have yet to go to a store, even those promoting “cumbersome rectangular canvas bags”, that would not let you bring whatever sort of bag you desire to use. I have brought in reused plastic and paper bags (even those printed with a rival store’s name and logo), stuffed things into a backpack, used cardboard boxes, and probably some other stuff I haven’t thought of. The canvas box-bags are trendy, not mandated. Hmm… Really? I’ve used the “stuffed things in backpacks” before, but never thought of bringing my old (not broken) plastic bags. I usually save those for trash, but I make less trash than plastic bags accumulated, so eventually I have to get rid of them. I would prefer to get rid of them after they’ve done a good job (and gotten a few holes). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/49 "2009-11-19T14:47:14Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > SNIP > Have you ever seen one that was worn out? > SNIP With the crappy seams that the ‘canvas’ [really polyester] ones have, yes. I’ve had one “Save A Lot” light brown bag where the seam wore out. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/50 "2009-11-19T15:01:11Z")
> [@](#): > > One thing I adored about shopping in Germany was the ability to buy a single portion of some meat [a single duck breast, chicken leg, enough burger for one burger … a single pork chop] In the US, they look at you like you are insane if you ask for a single chicken breast, or a quarter pound of burger … I’ve never had any funny looks when I ask for a single serving of meat at the butcher counter. In fact, the person at the butcher counter is only too happy to weigh up several pounds of ground chuck in packages of 2/3 pound each (my husband and I both eat about a third of a pound of ground chuck in a serving). They also wrap up the chicken breasts in single packages, so all I have to do is stick them in the freezer. The only time I might hesitate to have the worker portion out and wrap up individual servings is when there’s a lot of other customers to take care of. I usually shop in the off-hours, though, and I’m usually the only one at the counter. > [@](#): > > I do have one reusable bag: a large insulated bag for frozen items. But in Texas this is a necessity if you want frozen items to remain frozen for more than a minute in 100+ degree heat. This, exactly. I love our insulated bags. I don’t just put the frozen stuff in them, I put the refrigerated stuff in them, too, like the milk and cheese and eggs. I have some net bags, but I’ve found that I tend to lose stuff out of them, so I use the canvas totes. In at least one grocery chain, they’ll give you a nickel back for using your own bags…but you have to remember to ask them. I think that the stores should charge for the disposable bags instead. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/51 "2009-11-19T15:21:19Z")
The cheap, reusable bags I’ve seen are made from recycled material. Remember, recycling only works if the [recycled material](http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm) is actually used. \*I apoligize if this has been mentioned, I only read about half the thread. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/52 "2009-11-19T15:24:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Here, people are charged for the disposable plastic bags (it’s the law, to discourage litter). Is this the case overseas? In Montreal, many grocery stores now charge five cents for a disposable plastic bag. Most offer canvas/heavy recycled plastic bags for sale for between one and five dollars, though you can often get them free during promotional events. IMHO, the the Société des alcools du Québec (our liquor commission) is at the forefront of this movement. They no longer provide disposable bags, but offer a range of [reusable bags](http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/GeneralContentView?page=/ng/saq-at-a-glance-z/DevDur-z/environment-z/sacs&langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001) that are guaranteed for life. If you tear one, they’ll replace free of charge. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/53 "2009-11-19T16:00:01Z")
> [@Marienee](#): > > Where is here? South Africa ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/54 "2009-11-19T22:22:49Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > At Costco, I stopped having them put my stuff into a box because they would stuff it so full I couldn’t even lift it into my car. So I bag up the contents of the cart once I get to the car. I am totally going to ask them to just put things back in the cart–thanks for the tip. As it is now, I put everything on the belt in groups that should go together, but they never stay that way. I try to bag my own but sometimes I can’t get to it and end up rebagging everything at my car. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/55 "2009-11-19T23:23:18Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > It makes for interesting chit-chat at the checkout - sacks from the likes of Drive Savers and Oracle help break the monotony of blank bags or bags with that store’s name on them. If you are talking about with the cashier, I can pretty much guarantee he/she couldn’t care less about your grocery bag on hour 6 of their 9 hour shift at register, and only you think it is interesting. Do you know how many pre-canned identical conversations a day a grocery cashier has about the bags? It’s a LOT. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/56 "2009-11-20T01:34:28Z")
> [@Marienee](#): > > …Most of the family grocery shopping is done with a bigger, reusable bag which looks like [this](http://www.distrifood.nl/upload/80aa135c-45d4-4662-b629-fb4776d61dd1_0_Jumbo-tas.280.jpg). These can be bought at the register but I don’t know anyone who ever bought one, as they are also given away more or less regularly. Or you can go to the end of the register and get one of the boxes they put there after stocking shelves which are free and much handier for the bike,… I can see why you’d want a box; those bags are huge! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/57 "2009-11-21T02:37:12Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I agree with this line of thinking. They are very much more practical for car trips, than for a walk or bus journey home. > > As I walk to the supermarket each time, I have no use for those bags, so I’ve left them alone. Instead I have taken to using my backpack / knapsack / rucksack / whatever you call it in your corner of the planet. But, if I want to buy a LOT of groceries, I put a couple of the totes IN the backpack on the way to the store, then fill all three, backpack on the back, one tote on each shoulder to even the weight. Works well when I want to stock up on canned goods. I’m a little tired when I get home from walking 3 blocks with all that stuff, but it’s worth it! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952/58 "2009-11-21T12:48:01Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > I want a free bag… :mad: They’re pretty common at trade shows and festivals of various sorts. I’ve been told that it’s because they last longer and don’t get thrown out as quickly as a plastic bag. And it’s free advertising if the sponsor’s name is on the side of the bag because people do use them for other things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-rectangular-canvas-bags-at-the-grocery-stores-to-replace-plastic-and-paper/517952.md?page=2)