United grocery stores recently started selling these cloth grocery bags. They are flat bottomed and just as large as a paper bag. Actually the website for the company that makes them, Bring Your Bag, says that you can fit three plastic sacks worth of stuff in one of these. They are very durable and I can see using these for a long time to come.
Of course by bringing in your own bag you are reducing the use of plastic bags. I was surprised to see how much though. According to the calculator on Bring Your Bag an average person will take their shopping home in 250 plastic bags per year!
They are quite inexpensive really – United is selling them for only 99 cents each. Then each time you bring them in you get a 5 cent discount off your bill. I talked with the company today and am getting more information on how these bags can be used as a fundraiser.
I heard that al of the stores are doing away with plastic bags. Is this true?