This seems like a simple way to drastically reduce plastic bags if they charged for them. How often would you ask for a bag if they tacked on an extra quarter to you purchase every time?

ban styrofoam clamshells for carry out.

Comparisons with Europe may be misleading, as it's my impression that it's always been more common for people there to use their own shopping bags.

I recently purchased these bags:

http://www.delight.com/Envirosax-Delightfully-Pretty-Reusable-Grocery-Bags

They're really small, so I've put on in all my purses/bags so I don't forget them. I bought them over a month ago and only once did I have to use in-store bags since.

The best choice is those cloth bags you reuse. But I'm too lazy.

At least half of the time I walk my groceries home, or if I have a car, it's on my way, tho.

Paper bags can also be made from recycled paper content.

Locally produced bags are the next best choice, especially if you reuse them sometimes, after those cloth bags.

Concerning plastic bags: We definitely need to reduce the number of plastic bags we use. I don't think banning them is the right idea, but encouraging the use of cloth bags (made of hemp from South Dakota?) is cheap, simple to implement, and relatively painless for consumers.

Ikea already charges about 5 cents per plastic bag you use; they also sell sturdier, reusable plastic bags for 50 cents each. The Red Apple on Beacon Hill has reusable nylon bags for $1 apiece, and they take 5 cents off your bill every time you use them.

The only issue I have with using my cloth bags is forgetting to bring them. But it sure is an easy way to cut down on trash.

Not to mention there's a continent-sized floating trash-island in the middle of the pacific that doesn't need anymore help getting bigger.

#11 is right on with his stats. Worry about the big problem of too many damn cars on the roads.

As left coast points out, there is no one perfect answer to reducing landfills and energy use. Just because cars burn more oil doesn't mean we shouldn't wait till that problem's fixed before we start solving another. What a useless attitude!

But as long as we're talking about reducing plastic use, we should think about plastic water bottles, too. The rate we're going through them just isn't sustainable.

We need to slow the fuck down with our consumption habits on every front. And stop whining about it, while we're at it.

Besides think of all the dogs.

Fuck you, consumer libertarians, and fuck your consumer freedom. As a citizen of the planet earth, I don't grant you the right to choose. Use reusable bags, bitches, or fucking die.