say goodbye to plastic bags California!
California did something pretty big today. The state banned single-use plastic bags.
This might not be news to residents in cities that had already banned the bags (i.e. San Francisco, Santa Monica, Davis, etc.), but it’s definitely going to take some getting used to for the majority of residents.
In the past few years we have accumulated a bazillion “reusable” bags in our house. I keep them in the laundry room cabinets, right near the door, so we can grab them on the way out for the day. I also keep some in the trunk of the car for Farmer’s Market and other shopping occasions. But those bags are often forgotten because they’re bulky to take INTO the store, especially when you’re shopping at the mall or Target for just a couple of things.
For me, though, the bags that have been invaluable to me over the past 6 years have been EnviroSax. I bought 3 of them from one of the sample sale sites, and they’ve turned out to be the best of all the bags I’ve tried. They’re small, light, they easily fold back into place, and they hold a great deal of things in an easy to carry bag! I keep one in my purse at all times, so the only time I forget it is when I switch purses and forget to switch the contents over too!
But with the new ban, it looks like I should stock up now and keep them in multiple purses and shove a few more of those extra bags we have in the car as well!
So, California residents, do you have to change your habits or are you already carrying your bag to and from the stores? Anyone have any great tips they want to share?
5 Comments
serena
I always carry my canvas tote and plastic bags to the farmer’s market! I’m trying to remember to do this when I go to the grocery store as well :)
Katie
Woohoo! What a great ban. Plastic bags are much less common in Europe, but they still give very small ones for free in Swiss grocery stores and normal ones in electronic, department stores, etc… but we’ve really gotten used to bringing our big reusable grocery bags for shopping trips and backpacks as we don’t have a car and need to carry the groceries back by hand.
I also keep two fold-up, smaller bags in my purse at all times for small grocery trips or shopping and my purse is usually big enough to store some things too. I’m known to tell cashiers that I don’t need a bag and if they are too quick, I will take my product out and give the bag back to them. I do it in the States too. I wish they would ban plastic bags in Ohio too!
Heidi
My hubs and I have been using EnviroSax bags for the last 7 years! My mom got us a 5 pack as part of a wedding present and they’ve survived, with style, ever since. Highly recommend them!
http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com
Kate
I have a bunch of reuseable bags too – they use them a lot for races. I keep them in my car because I never know when I’m going to need them. Solana Beach down here has been bag free for years.
Birdiebee
I don’t live in California but I always keep a recyclable grocery bag in my vehicle. I like the bags pictured above. Great idea!