Re-Useable Shopping Bags

[badgercat]

I think it's silly to buy bags that are made in and shipped from China and call it "green." That's like buying a brand new hybrid car with a battery with a finite lifecycle and no recycleability, when you have a perfectly functonal car in the driveway, and calling that "green." The only "green" is the money given to retailers.
However, I do have a stash of bags that I have been given at various events and seminars that I will re-use for shopping. I also have a large stash of plastic grocery bags (my DH is horrible about bringing them to the store whenever he goes) in the broom closet. Those also get used and re-used.

So if someone doesn't have a handy stash of sturdy bags for reuse, as you are lucky to have.... I used to reuse paper grocery bags, but they would inevitably wear out. Similar to BleeckerSt_Girl, I've gotten dozens of uses out of each of the grocery totes that I've purchased (2) or been given as a gift (2), which have been invaluable when going to/from stores on the bus, and they also fit nicely in the rear baskets on my bike. Sure, I probably could have taken the effort to shop around and find bags at a thrift store instead, but the ones I bought were $0.99 and purchased when I was already at the store. I'm of the opinion that a small step in the right direction is better than not considering it at all.