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Jan 2019
10:37am, 2 Jan 2019
4,401 posts
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TeeBee
I fear my head is going to explode soon, with trying to understand the best thing to do.
My mantra is just 'reduce, reduce, reduce' and if you can't do that reuse or (lastly) recycle.
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Jan 2019
10:45am, 2 Jan 2019
11,476 posts
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Rosehip
I'd be sad to only get 8 uses from those re-useable bags!
Is that paper bag made from recycled or "fresh" paper ?
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Jan 2019
10:51am, 2 Jan 2019
40,167 posts
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Velociraptor
Agree, both!
I'm thinking, I'd get several uses out of even a flimsy plastic bag (I still have some from before the 5p charge came in; I only throw them out if they break or a potential bacterial culture medium like blood from meat leaks inside them) but a paper bag is unlikely to survive more than one or two outings and I'd expect those heavy duty reusable bags to last for years.
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Jan 2019
10:52am, 2 Jan 2019
24,873 posts
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HellsBells
I'm still using a couple of given away free carrier bags from Lakeland that are at least 10 years old. They get used every week
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Jan 2019
10:56am, 2 Jan 2019
9,940 posts
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Garfield
I have a small collection of bags from various sources that mean I nearly never have to buy a single use bag. It's only those rare times when I thought I'd buy one item and come out with a basketful that I buy yet another fabric bag from somewhere!!
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Jan 2019
11:02am, 2 Jan 2019
3,312 posts
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run free
@Velociraptor - once read some stats that cotton bags were way worst than paper. Also the concerns for creating bioplastic packaging means diverting food sources.
@alpenrose - Norway and US states have found that the reverse vending scheme for bottles has greatly reduced bottle litter. Imagine the same for plastic bags. Litter would be greatly reduced.
Would prefer plastic bags were charged at say 50p / bag to encourage more consumers to reuse them.
@TeeBee - so sorry - was just trying to highlight that nothing is straightforward. IMHO at the end everything has to be balanced. With our modern day living we have to make decisions on what we focus on whether that is litter, greenhouse gases, or very basic living with zero energy requirements (no computer). I made my decision to focus on reduction of litter and material waste generation as that has a follow on chain.
Hence am with you all the way there...Reduce Reuse Repair and yes lastly recycle (if possible)
BTW thank you for saying hello at Crane Park 
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Jan 2019
11:07am, 2 Jan 2019
40,170 posts
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Velociraptor
I also read that cotton bags were worse overall than plastic or paper bags from an environmental aspect, and I can well believe it. I have some cotton bags, all of which I've acquired as race mementoes and the like, which I use because I'm not going to NOT use them, but I worry about the message being twisted to, "Buy lots of snazzy fabric bags with unicorns on them and feel superior to the boneheads who pay 5p for a bag at the supermarket counter." For every message will be distorted to say BUY MORE STUFF! if it can be.
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Jan 2019
11:12am, 2 Jan 2019
3,313 posts
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run free
Yes agree.
Thought I would take out a lucozade bottle that I had kept from .... London Marathon 2007. I reused that bottle several times over 8 months. Had so many people judge me and condem me.
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Jan 2019
11:13am, 2 Jan 2019
3,314 posts
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run free
(Drank the contents and reused the bottle in 2018)
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Jan 2019
11:22am, 2 Jan 2019
15,846 posts
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EvilPixie
I’m still using an M&S bag from 2009 (bought with lunch when mum was having her heart operation)
As you can see much used/loved and I’m sure it has loads of use left on it!!
I have Waitrose hard shopping bags which I use weekly for 15+ years (from when we lived down south)
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