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The Loblaws chain in Canada charges 4 cents for a bag and they have been for years and years. They promote buying their 'green bag' or 'green box'. The bag is a heavy duty plastic bag that can be used and washed and will carry tons! The green box is a plastic crate that can be used to load up your groceries. They're easier to carry that bags and it's something that you can always keep in the car.

So, I guess I don't really have a problem with paying for bags. It's great incentive to reuse and 4 or 5 bags at 6 cents each isn't a high price to pay if you forget your canvas tote.

I think people would respond better if it were arranged as a 6 cent *discount* per reusable bag that you bring and use, rather than a fee to buy the plastic ones. But I realize that if they do that, then they will raise prices on goods ever so slightly.

It's just frustrating for me because my kitchen trash uses plastic grocery bags ON PURPOSE to recycle them. So now I would have to either pay for them or buy Glad trash bags. I don't necessarily disagree about needing to use less, but I'm getting a little tired of Bloomberg right now.

OR use canvas or reusable bags JUST for groceries.

It's long overdue. This is common practice throughout Europe and as people have become more aware of environmental issues, they've come to accept it. Since recently you can see more and more people in NY use reusable grocery bags. I think this is going to be an incentive not only for consumers but also for stores that regularly triple-bag a head of lettuce or a dozen eggs.

Good idea.

I buy biodegradable pet bags from the pet stores now that I stopped getting plastic bags.

And, if people forget and don't want to pay for the platic bags, what about paper? I know it's not as good as reusable, of course, but if someone is in a pinch and really needs to save six cents, it could work. Unless there is something about paper bags in the law too? I know it's easier to carry plastic on transit, but that would be the trade-off. 6cents per bag when you forget yours, or a slightly unwieldy paper bag.

But you should really bring your own.

PS I have some reusable bags that fold into a tiny bag about the size of a change purse. They're great for keeping in a backpack or purse, and then you are less likely to forget them, especially if you just stop by the store on a whim. I think they're called Chico Bags or something.

I have no problem with a 6 cent per bag charge. My only problem (and this is completely my own fault) is that I often don't plan my shopping trips. I usually drive to the closest Trader Joe's or other supermarket on the way home. I should buy reusable bags and remember to put them back in the car when I'm done. I know myself though - I ALWAYS forget to put my TJ's freezer bag back.

I'm tired of hearing that this will really hit the poor. The point is not to raise money on the bags; the point is to encourage folks to not use the bags in the first place. If paying 6 cents a bag is a hardship, then remember to bring one of the plastic bags that you got back when they were free.

And for the folks that currently use the bags for trash liners: That's not recycling; that's reuse. The bag still ends up in the landfill. I know this won't work for everyone but I live in an apartment building that has big trash bins (with big trash bags) for us to put our trash in. I just dump my garbage into the bins rather than bagging up my trash and putting the little bags into the bigger bags. Since I compost my food scraps there isn't anything messy in my trash so I don't need to use an extra bag to line my trash can.

i see matilda's point. i use shopping bags for trash too.

Yes, it would be annoying to have to pay for those times you forgot your bags, but I think the idea is to not forget your bags. Those little Baggus and Envirosax and the whole lot are small and easily tuck into purses (or backpacks, or briefcases, or whatever), so if you're going on an impromptu trip to the market, you'll have something to carry whatever you need. The rest of the time, if you're planning to go grocery shopping, you should probably remember to bring bags. Just as you would if you knew you were walking the dog--you'd need to bring a bag.

As for those with low incomes...does that pardon them from environmental awareness? Many places I know of are giving those bags away for free to encourage use, or with purchases of $10 or more. And nobody needs to buy them--I'm sure that everyone has at least one canvas or reusable bag in their home to carry groceries in. They've been doing this in Europe without a problem for years, I'm glad that we're FINALLY moving towards doing it in the U.S.

Several supermarkets here have a discount policy if you bring a reusable bag (usually 5 cents). The problem is that you have to be a real cheapskate and INSIST that you get the discount from the cashier, who is usually too busy or too indifferent to do it otherwise.

Worse still, some stores will only give you the discount if you've brought their branded reusable bag (and not some generic one that fits handily in one's purse). You also only get the discount once (5 cents total), even if your reusable bags hold the equivalent of 4 plastic bags worth of groceries.

I'm extremely cash-strapped, and I'm all for this. I went for a walk by the East River yesterday and saw bags EVERYWHERE -- in the trees, in the bushes, in the water. It has to stop.

I have a couple of canvas bags that I got for free. I don't carry them around all the time, of course, so sometimes do end up accepting the plastic but for a holiday gift I'm going to ask for one of those cool cloth ones that you can roll up and put in your purse.

Loblaws in Toronto has really started pushing re-useable bags and sell a great one for $1. They give a discount regardless of who's name is on the bag. I usually don't need more than 3 (they're big and hefty) and so many people use them now you almost feel guilty asking for plastic.

Ironically, No frills (loblaws super budget chain) charges 3 cents per plastic bag.

Although it's a slightly different type of store, Ikea (at least my Ikea in Texas) no longer even carries plastic bags. I learned that the hard way when I made my first non-furniture purchase a few weeks ago and had nothing to put it in. Conveniently a HUGE blue bag was available for $0.59 which I bought and have not since forgotten on subsequent trips to Ikea.

I would wager a bet that if major grocery stores simply stopped offering plastic bags as an option, people would learn rapidly to bring their own. I'm sure at first some people would be cranky about purchasing re-usable bags, but eventually they'd get into the habit of bringing their own rather than relying on the store to provide plastic. And besides, everyone has to eat and woe be to the grocery chain that would market itself as "un-green" by providing plastic bags in the face of so much green peer pressure.

In the mid-west (and I am sure other parts of the country) we have a chain called Aldi. They are a super discount grocery store offering a limited variety of products and fresh produce and meats for extremely low prices. You have to buy bags there. You always have. When I was a little kid I remember being in charge of reminding my mom to get the bags before we left the house. You could buy bags for 10 cents I think. I know they still charge for bags since my parents still shop there. I bring this up since in the area we live a lot of low income people shop there and my family was low income when I was a child also. We would buy a bag or two each time we went shopping until we had enough bags.

I work for a store that offers 10cents back for every (any) bag a customer brings. If they use 4 of their own bags, they get 40 cents. And if the bag is exceptionally large, or they use a box or a cart, I give 20 cents.

We get a few scam artists that will buy their stuff at multiple registers, ask for the ten cents each time, and then take a bag at the last one. I try to remember to refund everyone, and explain why, to those who didn't know our policy, so they remember to do it again next time.

It definitely helps when the cashiers actually care about it. I think im gonna give everyone in my family a few chico bags for the holidays!

(and yes, the entire Ikea chain gave up plastic bags - which they used to charge 5 cents each for.)

When we lived in Holland, Albert Heijn would charge for bags, but they were pretty sturdy plastic bags. Most people would bring in a whole bunch of bags when they shopped, so you'd only replace them when they ripped. They'd last quite a while, depending on how often you used them. It's a nice compromise (compromise is something the Dutch are known for!)

As several have said vis-a-vis the poor -- this is no excuse, and one that "concerned citizens of means" haul out for any change in NYC. The poor are probably more talented than their wealthier counterparts at resourcefulness and adaptability -- they will manage the fee just fine by always carrying a small bag or two, as we all should.

I bought some reusable bags on-line that are shaped like the plastic ones, so they can be stretched over those bagging racks at the checkout counter for easy filling -- they are terrific -- see it here:

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags™-workhorse-style-1501-black-mesh-p-906.html

I'm extremely cash strapped. To a point where certain foods are luxuries (i'll have to pass on the deli counter and pre-made stuff. oh well) and i still bought canvas bags. i even have a bag that folds into a little makeup sized pouch so i can carry it everywhere.
As for reusing plastic bags in trashcans- i just dump it all in and clean it out later, what's a little dirt?

i'm pretty sure the sam's club my parents go to haven't offered bags in years. you have to cart your stuff to the car and just dump it in the back.

but also- and i admit this is weird- my cat eats plastic bags. he'll just sit there and nom nom nom nom like they're tasty treats for him. so i really can't have plastic bags just lying around.

Now, if the stores can teach their baggers how to properly bag groceries, that would make this even better. So many times I've gone to the store only to have them put 2 things in one bag, or put soap in the same bag as produce. As a former grocery store bagger, it annoys me :) Trader Joe's always does a good job of bagging... they can usually fit $40-50 worth of groceries into one paper bag.

Hot on New York's heels, Toronto stores might start charging 5 cents per bag. Story here.

It is a good idea, good for the environment and for revenue generation. Most people own canvas bags now and when someone forgets theirs at home or makes an impromptu shopping trip, 5-6 cents is not a lot.

Where I work we have plastic bags, but they are of the degradable variety - made out of corn starch. The downside of this is that they are incredibly flimsy. If you have something with a reasonably sharp edge (such as a calendar or a sturdy box) it will slice them right through. Our local council also charges an extortionate amount for rubbish bags we currently pay $7.50NZD for four 40litre bags. They may be trying to encourage us to use wheelie bins (which cost even more) but it still all ends up in the same place.

I wish that Virginia would start charging for plastic bags! I always keep a big blue Ikea bag in the car for my big grocery trips, just set it up in the cart, and I'm ready to go! And I keep the cute breast cancer small ones from Giant in the backseat for other shopping!

Over here in Sweden, they've charged for bags, plastic or paper, for as long as I remember. I don't see what the fuss is. If it's "too expensive", then just 1) use the plastic bags you already have or 2) invest in good, multi-use grocery bags/backpacks/trolleys.