I use the IKEA big blue bags. They're huge (easily 3-4 regular grocery bags) waterproof and hold three jugs of milk without breaking. And the handle is long enough that you can sling it over your shoulder so that three milk jugs doesn't break your arm off. Best of all, the bag is just 59 cents.

[www.treehugger.com]

CWW

These bags are $0.99 and are the size of 2 regular grocery bags. They are amazing and I use them for everything (shoe bag, over night bag, etc).

[www.presidentschoice.ca]

thelouisguy

Want more of these?

I cant get you padded ones with zippers on top for much less.

Who wants to retail them for me in the US of A?

Bish

inboxmarketing

I've been using a similar bag that I actually got for free at a conference. I like it enough to consider getting more. And they have a variety of colors.

[baggubag.com]

Jeire

You can also do this with just pieces of cloth. I have a whole set of Instructables and just did one on making a shopping bag. You can find them here.

[www.instructables.com]

kengray

We had been thinking about one of the more expensive ones... when, at Target, we spotted a rack of reusable shopping bags for $1 apiece. What makes them nice is that they fold and zip up into a little packet that comfortably fits in a pocket or purse. They might not carry a gallon of milk, but we never put milk into grocery bags to begin with and so I figure it's no great loss. We just about cleared out that display... at $1 apiece, we could afford to get ten. :) I thought about a dozen, but I figured I should at least leave a few for other people...

Repique

My local grocery store gave this type of bag away for free a while back to anyone who would use them. They also gave out a larger size bag with clips that attach to the edges of your shopping cart, holding it open to a size roughly two paper bags wide. I can usually fit all my stuff for week in the big bag and use the small one for bread and eggs. Since they offered these last year I have only used paper bags twice and that was mainly because I have to use a brown paper bag to recycle paper curb side (rather odd rule over here).

hoplow

Muji offers very similar nylon bags for $10 a piece with independent pouches.

Claystil

We have a bunch of the President's choice bags. Along with some from Sobeys. Plus a couple different ones from other places. But the problem is remembering to bring them into the store.

Oh well guess running back out is good exercise.

Myles

go ikea bags. i think CWW is underestimating their size. I think they'd hold more like 6 bags, especially if you're packing them like the grocery stores usually do. they also have two sets of handles so you can be a little bit more comfortable lugging them a couple blocks if you don't drive to the store.

Ben J

@wmarcy: Many stores take few cents off your bill for each reusable bag you use. Mine is 3 cents per reusable bag.

Plus they may pay for themselves in other ways -- taking a little stress off the environment. Plastic bags are difficult to recycle, and many end up where they shouldn't be, creating problems for animals. Both plastic bags and paper bags use a lot of resources while they are being made.

Take a look at the site lifehacker recommends. They have a page or two about why we should use recyclable bags.

superdewa

I get my shopping bags for free, paper or plastic, how could these bags ever pay for themselves?

wmarcy

The two places we shop for groceries at sell reusable bags for $1 each. And the people at Trader Joe's don't seem to care if you bring in the bags from Stop and Shop, either.

The reusable bags are much better than plastic, they hold much more and don't create waste.

enjar

Publix, Kroger, WholeFoods, and Trader Joe's all have GREAT looking bags (except for Kroger's) for $.99.

I posted about them at my place, The Fun Times Guide to Living Green.

JSDavis82

Four bags for $24?! I get mine $0.88/each at my grocer, and I have yet to stress one beyond its strength.

danielo

Chicobag (chicobag.com, or they're also available at reusablebags.com) sells a similar bag, which stuffs into its own built-in pocket and has a carabiner to attach it to anything. Comes in funky colors, and it's only $20 for 5. Everyone that sees mine asks where to get them.

otterbyte

Looks like there's lots of similar products out there on the marketplace, but since they're making it easier for folks to reuse their shopping bags I guess that can only be a good thing.

My two cents - check out Trek Light's 'Eco Totes', which also look similar to the Acme bags. They have a keychain attachment so you can keep one with you at all times. I've got a bunch of them and I gave a ton out as stocking stuffers this year and everyone I know went back for more.

It looks like they're sold out at the moment, but when I asked the owner said they'd be getting more in stock this week. They even have a 6-Pack deal that will net you one for free.

Here's the link (the company also makes awesome hammocks if anyone's interested)
[shop.treklightonline.com]

(No affiliate link or anything, I'm just passing along my recommendation...)

lemmywinks

I know I should do this. But (a) I really dislike the canvas bags for groceries. The ones I have don't stand upright well enough for easy bagging. And for a family of 4, they're too small. Same for the net-bags that some use. (b) once the old bags are under the sink for recycling (plastic) or garbage can lining (paper) I never think about them.

I'll try the IKEA bag and putting a reminder sticker on the laminated shopping list we use.

cgarrigues

Where I'm living right now in Europe, all the supermarkets have moved (recently) to charging 3 cents per plastic bag. Paper bags are unheard of, and you also have to bag your own groceries. It took a little getting used to, but I really do think it reduces both waste and litter.

I use canvas totes for groceries, and my giant Ikea bag for taking clothes to the laundromat. The supermarkets also sell bags made of more durable plastic for 10 cents, and really heavy duty bags made of tarp material for a euro, and these they replace free of charge when they've become worn out.

I have also seen people (those who drive a car to the supermarket) using plastic crates, sort of like milk crates, but collapsable and with handles.

I think it's a good model, although I do miss having someone else to bag my groceries. In California where my mother still lives, supermarkets have been mandated to provide recycling bins for plastic bags, which is not bad either.

Emily Wang

Yeah, or you can buy the 99-cent canvas bags from your local supermarket.

HeartBurnKid

*8 ACME bags stored on d-ring in glove compartment
*1 Milano string bag (from same site) for my handbag
We used to have a random assortment of cheap and free bags/totes but they were awkward and we forget them a lot. It was worth the money to consolidate. We don't forget them, they fit grocer racks, they're easier to carry.
I don't own a car (tho I use my so's occasionally) and mostly walk and bus. The string bag has long handles so I can sling it over my shoulder. I love it and stocked up for gifts. Awkward, bulky bags that are a pain to carry have no place in my life. I'll pay more for the perfect thing happily.

mahalie

@HeartBurnKid: The problem with the canvas totes is that they're extremely easy to forget and don't travel well. Bags like this, or some similar ones by Reisenthel, are easy to remember because they're small enough to keep on you and/or in the car at all times. I keep a very small Reisenthel bag in my purse always for surprise shopping trips. I have two of these Acme bags for planned trips, and a couple larger, over-the-shoulder bags for big trips. I can fit all five bags in a purse. I would never be able to fit five canvas bags in a purse. Considering that I don't have a car and generally walk to the supermarket, portability in my reusable bags is essential.

kerry

My store pays 3 cents per reusable bag. I would far rather they charged 3 cents per plastic bag.

I keep two Riesenthal ones that fold up small on my purse at all times, for errands about town, and a pile of supermarket ones in the car (as long as I remember to put them back there).

I like big the reinforced plastic ones I got at Price Chopper better than the canvas ones I got at Hannaford. They do stand up more like a paper bag and are easier for the baggers.

superdewa

I love the canvas ones from Trader Joes... I have 2 at home for groceries, 1 in my car when I'm out & about and 1 in my office if I run errands during the day. It amazes me that more stores like Target aren't doing this when a place like Amoeba, a huge record store in Hollywood, does.

ComicDork

Select your own size of grocery bag: go to a thrift store and purchase any kind of tote bag, for pennies!

MsKitty

@Comicdork Target does have some...2 different ones actually. They are my favorite reusable bags.

I pictured and reviewed them here

JSDavis82

Serious question, I'm all for using cloth for grocery and small purchases (and I do..)

However, I have dogs and their ummm issues need to be scooped. Is there any recyclable doggie poop bags? I'm using the plastic bags from the veggie aisle or left over plastic grocery bags.

strega

@STREGA One of the MANY solutions to your questions is BioBags. These are bags that can be used to dispose of your pet's droppings, but compost in a matter of days.

There are also some good flushable poop bag options that may benefit homes with smaller dogs.

JSDavis82

@JSDavis82:

Thanks, I've bookmarked the page, there are a few more things on that site that look useful to my life.

strega

@STREGA Good, glad i could help! If you're into fun, easy, and cheap ways to begin living green, feel free to hit up my site as well.

JSDavis82