Paper With Your Plastic

I don't know what it's like where you live, but here in southcentral Pennsylvania, grocery stores make it tough to be earth-friendly. I'm lucky to have bought my own reusable bags years ago, when the supermarket I frequented wasn't afraid to sell practical, large-size bags. Those tiny totes I see in the stores now seem designed more for multiple bag sales than typical grocery hauls. If consumers have to buy 8 bags to carry a routine load, they'll probably just stick with the free plastic option.

Even though I provide my own 18 x 16 x 7-inch, breathable, moisture-proof bags, I still have to insist that store checkout clerks not ply me with plastic -- for frozen foods, produce, salad bar containers and any number of other items they deem "separate" or special. I also have to ask that they fill the bags completely; for some reason, they tend to fill them half-full, then reach again for the plastic. They have actually argued with me when I say that I prefer full bags, everything together. If this is the response we earth-conscious types get, how many patrons are going to adopt mindful habits?

My latest beef with grocers is paper-wasting receipts. Last week I bought three items from a local supermarket; my receipt was 30 inches long. I bought one item last night and got a 20-inch receipt. I'm not interested in the flower department's sale, the sandwich club or the "Golden Awards" program. I don't need to know that the pharmacy is now open. The logo alone takes up 2.5 inches. This isn't even a national chain, but a locally owned store. You would think that, whether or not they are eco-minded, they would embrace ways to reduce operating costs, and clearly they are using two-thirds more paper than necessary.

One UK grocer is doing its part: it prints receipts on both sides of the paper. Some advocate electronic receipts. Others suggest declining receipts when possible. For my part, I think I'll start with a letter to the local grocery store manager, asking for larger bring-your-own bags, a bit of education or training for employees and consideration of shorter receipts. If you have other suggestions, please share them.