As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, if NYC city council members have their way grocery stores will soon be required to take back and recycle the hundreds of plastic bags they so liberally bag groceries in on a daily basis.
This would be a pretty incredible feat.
During my six years in NYC, I spent countless times telling store clerks, "I don't need a bag... NO, I don't need a bag..."
My requests were never really heard. Clerks would continue to bag anything I purchased, from a can of Diet Coke to a can of cat food. It was as if the request to carry something using my own two hands just didn't make sense.
More often then not, to my dismay, I inevitably would have to remove my purchased item from the
bag, leave the bag on the counter and one last time explain, "I don't need a bag" - with the cashier looking dazed and
confused as I walked away.
Living in Portland has brought me some relief. I am delighted when I check out my item or items and the cashier asks, "Do you need a bag?"
I smile and reply, "No I don't. I brought my own."
As did several people behind me...
Encouraging people to BYOB (Bring your own bag) just makes sense. So much sense that it is garnering the unlikely support of a Bush family member.
Lauren Bush, President Bush's niece famous for her good looks and modeling career, is supporting the City Council's call for plastic bag recycling. At a news conference in NYC, she promoted the FEED Bag, a reusable cloth bag that costs $60 and enables the food program to feed a child for one full school year.
You can read the entire article in the NY Times here.
But you don't need $60 to get a reusable bag of your own. You can find them at Fred Meyer, who recently launched a campaign to promote using reusable bags, Whole Foods, New Seasons and many other stores.
Show your support for the environment and BYOB.
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