Do you prefer paper or plastic?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Since the 80s, we have been active recyclers of glass, plastic and cardboard containers. And more recently we have tried to be more and more eco-correct, using reusable grocery bags...but I have to confess, the bags are sometimes forgotten, left in the trunk, and by the time we get to checkout and realize this, especially in heat ranging 90 to 100, we sheepishly accept the grocer's bags. I don't know which one to choose, paper or plastic....so I alternate....which is the better choice?

[DRIvaDiva Banned Find all posts View Profile Close DRIvaDiva]

I don't know which one to choose, paper or plastic....so I alternate....which is the better choice?

Now there's a sound decision.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

As some here know, since my It's Hard to Be Green thread got me booted elsewhere, I try to be green. My green bags are sitting right there in the passenger seat.

Like you, I remember that about the time I get to the front door at Wal Mart.

I take plastic.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Oh yeah, the recycling program I started at my last place of employment outlasted me there, and is still going on. Sometimes when I drop a can in the recycling barrel there, one of the new employees says, "Thanks, sir," not having any idea how the barrel got there in the first place.

Of course, whenever someone says Sir, I look around to see if there's some old guy behind me.

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Like you guys, I have bags in my vehicle (2 huge Sam's insulated ones), but tend to forget to take them in to the store. Sometimes I tell them just to put the stuff back in the cart and I load the items into the bags that are in the back of my SUV - this is usually for frozen or refrigerated items. I do put a "blue ice" block in the insulated bag when I head to Sam's or Costco. Then I load the food into the bag when I get to the car.

Most of our groceries do not give you a choice of paper bags any more. I do like to get those sometimes - I need them for microwave caramel corn and turkey baking. I used to use them for trash bags too.

[catwgirl Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close catwgirl]

Most of our groceries do not give you a choice of paper bags any more. I do like to get those sometimes - I need them for microwave caramel corn and turkey baking. I used to use them for trash bags too.

Off subject, sorry, but I LOVE caramel corn. Would you share your recipe?

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

It takes energy to make either, and either is readily recycled. Maybe one of our resident green experts like JLB can tell us which takes more energy.

I use paper when I get it to store paper recycling in the house before it goes to the curb in the paper bag in the Blue bin. When I get too many, the whole bag of bags goes in the Blue Bin.

I use plastic when I get it to empty the clumps of kitty litter and kitty sh*t from the litter box to the trash can. When I get too many I walk a half mile to the grocery store where I put them in their recycle bin.

I now have some 'reusable' green bags and my favorite little grocery store pays me 5cents every time I use their bag in their store!

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

Here is my thought when you have to choose either paper or plastic.

Plastic: Most stores (even Walmart) have bins at the entrance so you can recycle the plastic bags. So, talk plastic bags and then bring them back your next trip and put them in the collection container.

Paper: I use paper bags to put my paper recycables in for pickup. They are the perfect size to lay newpapers, cereal boxes, etc in.

So - either way, you can recycle both so I don't think there is a pro or con to either one if you recycle them!

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

Haven't seen paper in a loooooong time.

We have our own things in the car's trunk -what I call the "Sam's boxes" which I try to use for most other places too; I often take the items just out to the car in the cart for transfer to the boxes.

The plastic bags that we do take get used for garbage can liners (like for that kitty litter) and the (clean) excess ones go back to the store for recycling.

[CarolF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CarolF]

I now have some 'reusable' green bags and my favorite little grocery store pays me 5cents every time I use their bag in their store!

What a great idea.

A few months back all our stores were banned from providing plastic bags. We have to take our own carry bags each and every time - boy, it takes some getting used to.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

We have canvas totes I collected over the years attending food expos as a buyer for our local grocer. The bags live in my car and are rarely forgotten since I've used my own bags for 40 years. It's an ingrained habit. I even use them for shopping at the hardware store, the bookstore, farmer's market, everywhere.

I also get 5¢ for every bag used at both the grocery stores I shop regularly.

I haven't even seen paper bags anymore where I shop so occasionally I end up with a plasic one. They are used to line my wastebaskets.

As a kid, we used paper grocery bags to make bookcovers at the start of the school year. One Christmas, my family wrapped all our gifts using paper sacks. The kids decorated them with crayon drawings.

If I had to choose, I'd choose paper.

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Sent Recipe via PM

Off subject, sorry, but I LOVE caramel corn. Would you share your recipe?

You should have your recipe when you open your PM folder.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I try hard to remember my reusable bags, but sometimes they remain in the car. I recycle the plastic ones and every now and then I ask for paper because I want to put my shredded papers in a recyclable bag. I don't think we can recycle plastic bags in our bins so I take those to the grocery store.

Sue

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

We get plastic and use them to line the trash bags in our house. We get paper from Trader Joe's.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We always get plastic bags at the supermarket and them use them for the trash basket under the sink. We always recycle whether we like it or not as it has been required for years by the garbage collection companies. They supply 3 large 64 gallon garbage bins, for trash, recyclables, and greens.