Lady: Would you like paper or plastic? Me: Plastic please. Lady: Okay, 10 cents extra.. Me: Nevermind
By Michelle
@infatuatedbby (95001)
United States
October 22, 2016 9:44pm CST
Most of the time - I carry reusable sturdy tote bags when I go grocery shopping or I will get paper but since this was an unexpected trip, I didn't have any with me... I was asked if I had a preference.
I was buying individually glass bottles, so I asked for plastic because I didn't want the paper bag to rip.
Then, she goes it'll be a 10 cent charge.
Oh never mind then - I'm good. My boyfriend and I can carry our bottles out to the car. We parked right in front of the store.
Are they charging for bags in your area too? I know some areas of California were charging (like up North) or some stores where they don't have bags period like Costco, IKEA (unless you purchase the blue bag which I have) but I guess now more stores are charging for bags!
21 people like this
23 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
23 Oct 16
A few different grocery stores around here tried it but it didn't work so they stopped charging but Walmart just starated charging .05 a bag last Monday. We will see how it goes.
4 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
I know some stores give you 0.05 back if you have your own. At my regular grocery store I go to (Whole Foods) gives back 10 cents per bag used.
Let's see how that goes! They want to reduce plastic waste, but I always reuse my plastic bags if I get them ~ I prefer paper though.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85268)
• United States
23 Oct 16
No, I haven't run into that yet. There are some stores that only provide boxes, so if you want plastic or paper bags we have to bring it ourselves. Our Wal-Mart has a recycling bin at the front of their store so we can bring the plastic bags back and they get recycled. I always reuse the plastic bags anyway.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Oh yes like Costco/Sams Club will have boxes (which is convenient) I don't bring back my plastic bags but I know those stands where you can recycle the bags. I always reuse my plastic bags too!
1 person likes this
@mawdest (1587)
• Canada
23 Oct 16
Dang! That's quite ridiculous. I only really do most of my shopping at a very small grocery store that is very close to my apartment, and they don't happen to charge for bags. Not too sure about other places, but I don't think they do anywhere over here, to my knowledge.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
I always reuse my plastic bags :)
- But - they are trying to cut down and be more ecofriendly.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
@mawdest Yes, I always reuse mine and if people don't they have a place for people to recycle them. :)
1 person likes this
@mawdest (1587)
• Canada
23 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Same here, I try my best to reuse my plastic bags as well. Also, yes that makes sense that they are trying to be friendly to the environment, so I guess.. Good on them! :)
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48251)
• Canada
23 Oct 16
Stores have had to charge us for bags for several years now.
The only exception was Walmart, and that must have been because they were an American company and they had a "deal" with the government, but thankfully, that too has changed and they no longer provide free bags.
I think that its a benefit, it takes a while to see it, but you will notice less garbage, as that is what these bags are treated as if they are not recycled.
I do the same thing when I forget a bag, if I've only got a couple of items, I will carry it myself, but the stores kind of frown upon that-for security reasons.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
Yes, you're right ~ some stores frown upon not taking bags. And I have to like display my receipt as I walk off with my items or I feel like people will think I am stealing but in fact I had paid already!
I reuse all my bags (paper or plastic).
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
@Juliaacv Yes you are right - they should. I know Apple does but the bags are quite pricey if they were to do that for the market, but something else should be done!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48251)
• Canada
24 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby So do I, but I think that if they could come up with a type of bag that has some recycled paper fibers in it along with the plastic, it would break down easier in the landfills, and then maybe they could go back to giving them to us so we don't have to hoard them like they are gold.
1 person likes this
I bring mine.@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Ah I see. I bring mine too most of the time, but lucky it was just a few items I bought. If I was alone and needed a bag, I would have paid for it though.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
@LadyDuck I have an Ikea one but its SUPER BIG! I heard select locations have smaller sized ones now though.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457249)
• Switzerland
24 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby I have a foldable bag (that I bought at IKEA) that takes very little space and it is all the time in my handbag.
1 person likes this
@Ayuriny (5144)
• Denpasar, Indonesia
23 Oct 16
Yes, most groceries here are charging for bags. We have to pay 500 IDR or equals 3 cent USD for a small plastic bag, or 9 cent USD for the bigger one. But I always carry a go green tote bag with me whenever I'm going out. It's always there in my car. Haha!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Oh I see, depending on the sizes they charge. If you bring your own - will they give you a discount?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
@Ayuriny OH I see! Here they give you back 5 cents or 10 cents if you bring your own bag (depending on the store)! I don't need to pay for plastic bags either ~ I have plenty of bags at home lol!
1 person likes this
@Ayuriny (5144)
• Denpasar, Indonesia
23 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Nope! No discounts. I just don't need to pay for buying the plastic bag. 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158674)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Oct 16
No! That's ridiculous. We have so many plastic bags we take them back to the store. If they are going to start charging I am too. LOL
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158674)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby .....But the plastic are so much easier to manipulate than the paper ones are.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
@celticeagle Yes that's right! Plastic is useful for our waste baskets at home for me.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Haha yes, we have lot so of bags at home, so we don't need more. 
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Oct 16
Plastic bags are already banned in our city since November 2011 except for the real thin transparent ones for wet items like fish and meat and it's free
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Ah I see! That makes sense :) Yes those small thin bags for meat, fish, vegetables are free at all times.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
23 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby yes the reason they charge I guess is to discourage people from using them. I noticed our streets became cleaner when what we call here " sando bags " were banned, there were also lesser drainage cloggings.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
@louievill That is good the street are now cleaner. :)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
I reuse my plastic and paper too :)
Paper I recycle paper and plastic I use them for waste liners too!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
26 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby We are two peas in a pod!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
@just4him I see, if I am alone I would bought it but I like bringing my own :)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
I don't have an Aldi, but do you shop there? Do you usually buy bags or bring your own?
1 person likes this
@just4him (305417)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby If I remember I bring bags, but usually I forget as I don't always go there, but will decide after I've left home to go shopping, so buy the bags. Usually only one is needed.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
23 Oct 16
Yes, over here the government brought in a bag charge of 5p per plastic bag...we don't have paper bags over here much.
Little shops don't have to charge for bags but the bigger chains do...it's to encourage using less plastic bags.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
Yes, to reduce and save the environment. Do you have a preference?
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
24 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby I normally bring my own plastic bags, the ones that are a bit more expensive.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Oct 16
@Mike197602 I see. I have some nylon bags. :)
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Oct 16
I think Boulder was thinking of doing this, but no idea if it's been implemented. We do use those bags, but I also get plastic sometmes because I use them for trash.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
25 Oct 16
I get a mixture of both depending on the items ~ but I reuse all bags I get of course =)
1 person likes this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
27 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby
Yep---that's what stores are doing now, so I use my own bags.
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
24 Oct 16
To be honest I have never had a store ask me paper or plastic. It was some thing that I have only ever seen done in movies. All the stores in my hometown and every where else I have been only have plastic and/or they sell the reusable bags.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
25 Oct 16
I get asked Paper or Plastic at a few stores especially Sprouts!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
25 Oct 16
I reuse all bags I get whether they are plastic or paper as well :)
@silvermist (19702)
• India
23 Oct 16
@infatuatedbby Here they do charge for the plastic bags no option to choose.We can bring our own bags.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
How would they tax 5 cents though? It'd still be 5 cents?
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
23 Oct 16
They never offer a choice, they do have paper and there is no charge for either...
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
*not yet* maybe
I do hope they don't start charging everywhere though!
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
That is good! I hope not all places will start charging.
I do like getting .10 cents a bag back when I bring my bags to Whole Foods :)
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Oct 16
I haven't seen it hear in Florida yet, but it does seem to be a trend slowly sweeping the nation. I tend to use plastic bags, but I always either re-use them or I take them back to the grocery store and recycle them.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
23 Oct 16
I use combination of both but generally the stores I shop at offer paper only.
But that's completely fine and as far as plastic I always reuse them :)
1 person likes this
