I bought 5 of the green bags. I keep 2 in my car and 3 in my husbands. The baggers at Publix seem very reluctant to fill the bags up to the brim and they don't quite understand the reason for the green bags. I'll explain. Two weeks ago, I was at Publix with 3 green bags. I bought ground beef. As I watched the bagger bag, out of the corner of my eye I saw the cashier slip the ground beef in a plastic bag and then hand it to the bagger. Ugh! I didn't want to make a big deal but I'm thinking I bought the green bags so I don't have to have any of the plastic bags. I realize she meant well ("drippage") but it just made me very frustrated. I don't just do it to be "green". I do it mainly because I can't stand the plastic bags and I always forget to bring them back and they pile up in my closet.

My cashiers do the same thing! I wonder if it's part of their training.

The US is light years behind Eusrope on this whole plastic bag issue. Many countries charge you for a plastic bag, which has made everyone byob at the stores. I live in NY where they don't even recycle plastic bags. I finally got so fed up with the bags growing under my sink that I designed my own cotton grocery totes that I'm now selling online at www.minusbags.com. Unlike the Anya Hindmarch bag, they are 100% made in the USA. Don't think they'll be auctioned on ebay tho, if that's what you're in it for.

I HATE, HATE, plastic bags. I have several different types of reusable bags, but I don't always remember to bring them with me.

I'm a big time recycler, and when I get stuck with plastic, I always return them to my local grocery stores plastic bag recycling bin.

Don't even get me started on polystyrene! ;-)

I have the same problem at Publix and based on my conversation with the baggers its part of their training. Baggers are trained to only put certain items in bags with certain items (i.e. cleaning supplies can't be bagged with food, dry goods with dry goods, cans with cans, etc.) this system sometimes means that only 1 item goes in a bag. The baggers are also trained to make the bags light enough for the little ol' ladies to carry regardless of whether they are serving a littl ol' lady. I ask those baggers to fill the plastic bags to the brim and often help by grabbing stuff and bagging it myself.

Lois, Are you really that cheap? Why only buy one bag when you probably need 4 or 5?

I don't think your 'demands' are excessive. I've been using canvas and mesh bags since Publix sold them years ago. When I forget, I ask for double paper and pack it really full because my son will carry it in for me. I ask for all the frozen and perishables together. They generally ask if I want plastic for meats and frozen and I always say no. The baggers at my Publix are really good about honoring my requests.

Using plastic bags and not filling it completely is definitely something to be crazy about. Many don't realize the bad effects of plastic to our environment. With the use of those paper bags, hopefully, a lot of people will recognize its importance.