Comments on: earth day every day: plastic bags http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/ Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:36:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: jeela http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-498 jeela Mon, 12 May 2008 09:47:23 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-498 they do make the degradable bags, Noov. It's just if the store choses to go that route..... M what job haven't you had?? ^^/ they do make the degradable bags, Noov. It’s just if the store choses to go that route…..

M what job haven’t you had?? ^^/

]]> By: Noova http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-491 Noova Thu, 08 May 2008 05:11:05 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-491 If bags are banned, then what will I use to clean up my dog's poo? I guess I could buy the biodegradable poop bags they sell at the pet store. If they can make biodegradable bags for poo why can't they make them for groceries? If bags are banned, then what will I use to clean up my dog’s poo? I guess I could buy the biodegradable poop bags they sell at the pet store. If they can make biodegradable bags for poo why can’t they make them for groceries?

]]> By: maasanova http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-488 maasanova Tue, 06 May 2008 23:34:39 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-488 I used to be a grocery store bagger lol back in the brown paper bag days I used to be a grocery store bagger lol back in the brown paper bag days

]]> By: jeela http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-460 jeela Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:39:11 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-460 agree 100% that the outright ban on plastic bags doesnt seem like the best move... esp if that forces ppl to buy canvas or go with paper, which I read somewhere, is especially bad in HI b/c it's heavy and we of course have to import it a long distance, using more fossil fuel in the process. Jill it seems like there might be a good promotional opportunity there for the library, not just by putting a logo on it but giving some away at special events maybe, or even "customizing" them with some kind of craft decoration? IDK... maybe an incentive if ppl use them? candy or some trinket? Ms Angel I've totally run across those clueless clerks or baggers LOL, I just tell em: Load it in! or else I do it myself if they seem extra bewildered. I'm glad I'm not the only <strike>dork</strike> person who really gets a kick out of using the cloth bags! :) It's just satisfying somehow. And yea, being able to put it over your shoulder, makes it so you can carry a lot more quite easily i.e. without cutting off circulation in your fingers! agree 100% that the outright ban on plastic bags doesnt seem like the best move… esp if that forces ppl to buy canvas or go with paper, which I read somewhere, is especially bad in HI b/c it’s heavy and we of course have to import it a long distance, using more fossil fuel in the process.

Jill it seems like there might be a good promotional opportunity there for the library, not just by putting a logo on it but giving some away at special events maybe, or even “customizing” them with some kind of craft decoration? IDK… maybe an incentive if ppl use them? candy or some trinket?

Ms Angel I’ve totally run across those clueless clerks or baggers LOL, I just tell em: Load it in! or else I do it myself if they seem extra bewildered. I’m glad I’m not the only dork person who really gets a kick out of using the cloth bags! :) It’s just satisfying somehow. And yea, being able to put it over your shoulder, makes it so you can carry a lot more quite easily i.e. without cutting off circulation in your fingers!

]]> By: ms.angel http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-457 ms.angel Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:55:25 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-457 I agree with Jill in that it's possible to go a little overboard on the whole "no plastic bags" tip. One example is that my grandmother works at her local church once a month helping out with a food distribution project to homeless people in the neighborhood (manoa/punahou). To help out in this project, it was her job to collect used plastic bags that she got from the supermarket, and many of which were given to her by friends. Well, in order to be more "environmentally friendly", her church informed her that they would be buying paper bags, and they no longer needed her to collect what were essentially recycled bags, since they were going to be reused anyway. Oh and btw, the paper bags the church bought didn't come cheap, either. I think it's great that people are using - and most grocery stores are encouraging - the use of reusable bags. I always walk to the supermarket in my neighborhood and I LOVE my deep, long-handled Safeway bags - I can carry what would have taken up about 8-10 plastic bags, and sling them over my shoulders which is saves my fingers getting pinched. But it was kind of funny for couple of months - Safeway cashiers tried to charge me for them about three times because they thought I was trying to buy the bags even though they were already mine. I've also had cashiers who had absolutely no idea how to pack groceries in the deep bags, and are unsure of packing them very full, thinking they won't be able to handle the weight. So I'm sure it's a learning curve for employees, as much as customers. Switching off of plastic bags is probably really difficult for the retail industry - bagging something is more than just something you do to help the customer carry the item, it's also considered "customer service" and probably a form of loss prevention, too. I think banning plastic bags right now would be a little too hasty when customers and stores are already moving in the right direction. I agree with Jill in that it’s possible to go a little overboard on the whole “no plastic bags” tip. One example is that my grandmother works at her local church once a month helping out with a food distribution project to homeless people in the neighborhood (manoa/punahou). To help out in this project, it was her job to collect used plastic bags that she got from the supermarket, and many of which were given to her by friends. Well, in order to be more “environmentally friendly”, her church informed her that they would be buying paper bags, and they no longer needed her to collect what were essentially recycled bags, since they were going to be reused anyway. Oh and btw, the paper bags the church bought didn’t come cheap, either.

I think it’s great that people are using - and most grocery stores are encouraging - the use of reusable bags. I always walk to the supermarket in my neighborhood and I LOVE my deep, long-handled Safeway bags - I can carry what would have taken up about 8-10 plastic bags, and sling them over my shoulders which is saves my fingers getting pinched. But it was kind of funny for couple of months - Safeway cashiers tried to charge me for them about three times because they thought I was trying to buy the bags even though they were already mine. I’ve also had cashiers who had absolutely no idea how to pack groceries in the deep bags, and are unsure of packing them very full, thinking they won’t be able to handle the weight. So I’m sure it’s a learning curve for employees, as much as customers.

Switching off of plastic bags is probably really difficult for the retail industry - bagging something is more than just something you do to help the customer carry the item, it’s also considered “customer service” and probably a form of loss prevention, too. I think banning plastic bags right now would be a little too hasty when customers and stores are already moving in the right direction.

]]> By: Jill O http://www.jeelago.net/work/2008/04/22/earth-day-every-day-plastic-bags/#comment-456 Jill O Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:32:48 +0000 http://www.jeelago.net/work/?p=95#comment-456 Very timely, and I don't just mean in regards to Earth Day. Here at the library, we are discussing getting rid of our plastic bags that we give out free to going with the "green" bags that we would charge a patron to own. My feelings are that the administration has a middle-class mindset and assumes that everyone will pay a dollar or three to own these bags. They forget that we also serve a lot of young people and lower-income patrons that cannot even afford the low price. I'm all for using the bags, but feel that they need to also offer a free alternative. Your links were really informative - including the crafts link which I may have to try. Very timely, and I don’t just mean in regards to Earth Day. Here at the library, we are discussing getting rid of our plastic bags that we give out free to going with the “green” bags that we would charge a patron to own. My feelings are that the administration has a middle-class mindset and assumes that everyone will pay a dollar or three to own these bags. They forget that we also serve a lot of young people and lower-income patrons that cannot even afford the low price. I’m all for using the bags, but feel that they need to also offer a free alternative. Your links were really informative - including the crafts link which I may have to try.

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