Our Walmart is currently being updated and I think pick up will be an option when it's done, so it's interesting to read the discussion on this.
I use reusable bags at Walmart and use the self checkout because cashiers here aren't good with using them. Bagging my own stuff is one of the reasons I like Aldi.
We have a smaller grocery store that I rarely go to and they pretty much refuse to use reusable bags, which is one of the reasons I avoid them (they're also really expensive). They suck at bagging anyway, I've seen them put a 6 pack of drinks that was shrink wrapped in a bag. Why? And the last time I was there they put 1 Gatorade in a bag by itself and 3 bottles in another together. So odd.
Plastic bags have been illegal in my city for a while. Grocery delivery services use paper bags. I like it but it’s made me buy more garbage bags for my bathroom trash cans as always reused them for that. And picking up dog poop. . But it’s still better than the waste.
I do grocery pick up at Walmart and emailed them about using reusable vs plastic. They said that I can call a couple of hours before my pick up and tell them I'll be bringing my own bags and they will then bag everything during pick up.
I did grocery pickup for the first time at Walmart the other day, and they brought everything out in crates and just loaded it in my vehicle. Granted, I had mostly larger items, so maybe this isn't the norm.
One of the things I used to love about Safeway was that they would load your groceries in their leftover boxes (this was years and years ago, before reusable bags were a thing). So convenient, especially for large orders.
I also like that our Target drive-up uses very few bags, and the ones they use are enormous and of a nice-ish quality so I can reuse them a few times.
ETA and now that I use Instacart quite a bit, I like that the guy that usually shops my orders uses paper. Also, most of the shoppers use reusable bags and just carry them in and unload them on my counter.
That’d be awesome, I wish our Instacart shoppers did that here.
I have thought about this, too, but wonder if there would be issues with washing them— they would have to factor that into the cost and I don’t know if stores have the capacity to do that? I also wonder about liability issues related to allergens— if I’m allergic to something that was in the bag before, etc. I’m not a lawyer and have no grocery store employment experience, so maybe these are not real concerns. I do think it’s a good idea and would love to see them try something like this (see also: Starbucks mobile orders)
I think that if you have severe allergies, you’d need to still bring your own. I think the washing is probably the biggest hurdle. But I’d gladly put down a $10 deposit to just do a reusable bag exchange program so that they can have my groceries already bagged in reusable bags. I figure we’re talking about a service I already pay $5/order for, so it’s not like it would be cost-prohibitive to most customers - anyone on that tight of a budget is not paying for the service to start with. And I’d still keep the reusable bags I’ve got. I try to always have one with me for running random errands, whether it’s the drug store or whatever. I also carry a Lo & Sons OG for a purse most of the time, and it can fit a ton (a box of wine or a 1.75L of liquor or a whole take and bake pizza...ask me how I know).
I think it’s a workable idea.
I heard about this company doing a sign out the reusable take out container, that is far more involved than installing a washer/dryer at a grocery store. And somehow they get all volunteers to pick up dirty containers and bring them to wash. durhamgreentogo.com
Puerto Rico has had plastic bag ban for the last 2-3 years. You can either use a reusable bag or buy plastic bags (that are sturdier than the usual kind and thus reusable) for ten cents each
I hope this spreads. We have been to countries where plastic bags basically aren’t a thing OR they will sell you a heavy duty one for enough money that you’ll remember yours next time. My hometown charges you for all plastic bags and it’s a noticeable difference in how many people use reusable compared to my east coast town that can barely get it together enough to recycle.
I like the idea but I won't shop at Kroger. Every time I go they are out of staples including milk, flour, sugar, corn meal, salt, and it seems like anything I might actually need. It is only one thing each time but it is av consistent problem.
I went to the Kroger website to look up the nearest location (I'm in NJ) and for some reason a bunch of mall jewelry stores kept coming up in my search. Odd.
(The closest actual supermarket to me seems to be in Virginia.)
I think she means in her yard. We do the same thing. Line a small can with a plastic grocery bag to pick up waste in the yard.
We do use those on walks.
I also use them in my yard.
Oof. You probably pick up dog poop a lot more often than we do. lol
It's kind of a once a week chore for us. It would take a lot more plastic to use those little bags by the time we picked everything up with those, not to mention it seems like a pain in the ass if you're not on top of it daily.
Oof. You probably pick up dog poop a lot more often than we do. lol
It's kind of a once a week chore for us. It would take a lot more plastic to use those little bags by the time we picked everything up with those, not to mention it seems like a pain in the ass if you're not on top of it daily.
Yeah, we pick it up every day. My dog is also 10 lbs with very small poops.
We have a service that picks up poop for us for $10 a week. They use a trashbag lined bucket thing. They get our yard and at least 2 neighbors with it. Maybe more.
I think she means in her yard. We do the same thing. Line a small can with a plastic grocery bag to pick up waste in the yard.
We do use those on walks.
No - I meant on walks. For awhile we were SO BAD about taking our re-useable bags with us that we had them coming out of our ears. I did order some of the biodegradable poop bags though - so we'll see how we like them!
There aren't many Krogers around here. I loathe plastic bags. The three places I shop on a regular basis don't really use them.
Aldi- they don't even bag your groceries, just throw them in the cart. You can either put them in reusable ones you bring or purchase larger plastic ones that can purchase for $0.10 It takes a little getting used to at first. But I like being able to bag how I like. Trader Joe's - They have them but use them sparingly. They use paper, but I really prefer to use the reusable one, much easier to carry. They usually do a pretty good job packing them up. Costco- They only have boxes. Getting all the stuff in the house usually takes like 3-4 trips. I kind of hate Costco though, too big and overwhelming for me.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 29, 2018 13:26:50 GMT -5
I use my giant reusable IKEA bags for Costco. Keeping my two favorite stores connected!
Also, for groceries we generally order from Fresh Direct, and they recently switched from cardboard boxes to reusable bags that you give back to the delivery person during the next delivery. I love it. Even though they replaced cardboard, FD is popular in the NYC area and a gazillion people live here, so they must have gone through an unimaginable shitload of boxes. I even hated having them in my house for a few days before recycling pickup. I didn’t think of the relative grossness of reusable bags but oh well, what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. *licks floor*
I use my giant reusable IKEA bags for Costco. Keeping my two favorite stores connected!
I like to do that too! We bag our Costco purchases when we are loading them into the car (DH thinks it is easier, plus things are bagged the way we like) and the IKEA bags mean fewer bags to lug into the house. We actually still have a couple of canvas IKEA bags, from many, many years ago, in addition to the blue bags.
Today the guy ringing up my purchase at CVS was so happy when I refused a bag. He started talking about bans of plastic bags and how great that was, and moved on to countries that had always used reusable bags. I think he stopped, but wouldn't be surprised if the next customer got an earful...he was really on a roll. lol
It is still weird to me how seemingly new the concept is to people here (FL). At least people don't look at me like I'm from another planet when I pull out my shopping bags, like they did when we moved here 5 yrs ago. I guess when you think about it, FL and CA kind of are different planets.
I think she means in her yard. We do the same thing. Line a small can with a plastic grocery bag to pick up waste in the yard.
We do use those on walks.
No - I meant on walks. For awhile we were SO BAD about taking our re-useable bags with us that we had them coming out of our ears. I did order some of the biodegradable poop bags though - so we'll see how we like them!
For in the yard we dig a deep hole in the back near the fence line, scoop the poop into the hole, and cover it with a layer of dirt. The dogs/other critters stay out of it, and it decomposes over time.
Ah, well then those bags are the ticket! We have a little holder thing on her leash, so we always have them.
There aren't many Krogers around here. I loathe plastic bags. The three places I shop on a regular basis don't really use them.
Aldi- they don't even bag your groceries, just throw them in the cart. You can either put them in reusable ones you bring or purchase larger plastic ones that can purchase for $0.10 It takes a little getting used to at first. But I like being able to bag how I like. Trader Joe's - They have them but use them sparingly. They use paper, but I really prefer to use the reusable one, much easier to carry. They usually do a pretty good job packing them up. Costco- They only have boxes. Getting all the stuff in the house usually takes like 3-4 trips. I kind of hate Costco though, too big and overwhelming for me.
My Aldi doesn't put them back in the cart for you, they just stack them up at the end of the checkout area. And if you're not fast enough getting them in the bags or back in the cart (which has a $2 coin rental fee) they fall to the floor. Let me tell you how angry I was when they pushed off fragile things because I wasn't fast enough with my collecting. Now I only go to Aldi for 2-3 things at a time.
There aren't many Krogers around here. I loathe plastic bags. The three places I shop on a regular basis don't really use them.
Aldi- they don't even bag your groceries, just throw them in the cart. You can either put them in reusable ones you bring or purchase larger plastic ones that can purchase for $0.10 It takes a little getting used to at first. But I like being able to bag how I like. Trader Joe's - They have them but use them sparingly. They use paper, but I really prefer to use the reusable one, much easier to carry. They usually do a pretty good job packing them up. Costco- They only have boxes. Getting all the stuff in the house usually takes like 3-4 trips. I kind of hate Costco though, too big and overwhelming for me.
My Aldi doesn't put them back in the cart for you, they just stack them up at the end of the checkout area. And if you're not fast enough getting them in the bags or back in the cart (which has a $2 coin rental fee) they fall to the floor. Let me tell you how angry I was when they pushed off fragile things because I wasn't fast enough with my collecting. Now I only go to Aldi for 2-3 things at a time.
This depends on the layout of your Aldi. I’ve been to ones in different states & the ones I’ve been to in Northern VA put the groceries back in a cart.