Reusable Shopping Bags Distributed in Shorewood
In a first of its kind for Wisconsin, a citizens group will hand out free reusable shopping bags on Saturday to every home in Shorewood.
At first I was going to vote 50 or 75%, but it’s Shorewood so 25.
But anyway who cares? It’s not a government paid for mandate. This kind of makes you look a little bitter.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 0759 hrsBYOBag at Balistreri owened Sendiks and you get a nickel off per bag. I don’t see how giving out more bags is going to reduce trash.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 0811 hrsFreudian slip I guess. I meant owned not owened.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 0813 hrsCool. I’ll turn on all the lights on in my home to celebrate the end of global warming as we know it.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 0921 hrsBigT-
I don’t see how giving out more bags is going to reduce trash.
really? 50% of the Shorewood residents throw their bags away. The other 50% keep them and use them three times before throwing them out. They’ve reduced trash. Seems pretty simple.
Posted by Mike on July 15, 2008 at 0950 hrsI use the reusable bags all the time and have been for about a year. It sure cuts down on those horrible plastic ones that seemed to take on a life of their own. If for some reason I need a plastic one for the trach can or something there is always one or two somewhere around. Several stores here give a nickel back for each reusable bag used. They are easier to use with the longer handles that don’t tear into your hands. Our city also has a pretty good recycle program that I participate in also. Seems a lot less garbage around.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 0953 hrsAt first I was going to vote 50 or 75%, but it’s Shorewood so 25.
lol, that was my exact thought.
Its shorewood. They’ll all keep them so they can feel better about themselves, probably leave them in the drawer at home and forget them half the time but its the thought that counts.
But anyway who cares? It’s not a government paid for mandate.
Having friends who live in Shorewood, I can ASSURE you that they’ll be sure to let me know next time they are at my house and see grocery bags in the cupboard that they use reusable bags.
I’ll just let myself be amused by it.
I’m happy for the people who use them. Good for them. I also know that this is symbolism over substance.
Me personally. I usually grab a couple extra empty bags before I leave the self-bagging area. I use grocery bags as gerbage bags in my kitchen. They work great.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1025 hrsI still don’t see how supplying more bags is better than getting more people to recycle the bags they already have.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1037 hrsAll snarky comments about Shorewood residents aside (tempting though they may be), I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that some of you seem to be taking issue with a FREE, non-taxpayer funded program to get reusable shopping bags to people.
We should be encouraging more people to use reusable bags. It’s not hard. Used in combination with good recycling programs, ultimately it does cut down on waste. Why would you be opposed to that? Does someone here work for a plastic bag manufacturer or something?
But I’m getting the impression that some folks won’t be happy with any sort of recycling or reusable program, period. First you complain that any government mandated ban would be unthinkable, and now that people are taking the initiative on their own, you deride it, too. Nice.
Posted by Emily on July 15, 2008 at 1100 hrsHow hard is it to use the re-usable bag? We’ve had one for a year now and yes sometimes I forget it but most of the time we use it. I know we have dramatically reduced the number of plastic bags that we use and that can’t be a bad thing. Further if we do get a plastic bag then I bring it back to the store when I go the next time… Really not that hard
Posted by Dave Reid on July 15, 2008 at 1101 hrsEmily/Dave,
I don’t have a problem with reusable bags at all. They are not practical for my family since we buy for six people and usually require 20+ bags per trip. But if they work for you, fine. Have at it.
I found this story comical because it is a great example of a program that makes the people doing it feel good about themselves, but will probably do nothing. Shorewood is not a poor community. If people wanted to use reusable bags, I’m certain that the vast majority of the people in Shorewood could go get one themselves. By delivering a bag to every household, there are going to be many many people who either don’t want to use them or won’t because they are like my family. Thus, these bags will go in the trash, thus aggravating the problem that this program was supposed to help fix.
Posted by Owen on July 15, 2008 at 1107 hrsI sort of want to pick up on Emily’s comment in my reply to Owen.
This is a community-generated business-sponsored values-reflecting volunteer activity. It is, in fact, the very type of community involvement that I constantly hear politically-engaged people on the both ends of the spectrum seeking. These are people who aren’t going to wait around for gov’t. to act. They’ll step up and lead out of a sense of their priorities within a community. True democratic citizenship.
Why then poke fun at, mock or belittle such a program?
Posted by Mike on July 15, 2008 at 1127 hrsBecause the mere fact that their hearts are in the right place and they are involved does not make them immune from poking when they do something stupid.
Their money would be better spent if they offered people a free bag in front of grocery stores, or ran a public awareness campaign, etc. That way, people who want to use a reusable bag will be able to get a free one and those who don’t want a reusable bag won’t clog the landfill with the ones left on their doorstep.
Posted by Owen on July 15, 2008 at 1133 hrsI’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that some of you seem to be taking issue with a FREE, non-taxpayer funded program to get reusable shopping bags to people.
For the record I have no issue with the program.
Do I think it will make a difference. I highly doubt it.
Do I think it is symbolism and “feel-good” over substance. Yes.
I use my grocery bags for garbage bags.
To be honest, I like to cram my grocery bags full and they often tear so a re-usable bag would be more rugged I bet, so in that way, a reusable bag would be better. But then I’d have to go out and buy garbage bags to use for my garbage. A net gain of nothing. (well it would actually cost me money)
Now if someone is going to suggest that I also use re-usable garbage bags, then I’m going to argue about the utility and practicality of getting rid of garbage that way.
So overall, I’m not sure if its the most efficacious program. I think people are probably better off from a cost and use standpoint of using the grocery bags as garbage bags.
But i embrace these peoples perogative to do whatever they please and admire them in principle for doing so outside of the government
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1152 hrsRelax, Owen.
They are running a public awareness campaign. They are handing out free bags (albeit not where you would apparently do it). People who want a reusable bags are getting them. They are not clogging a landfill.They are succeeding on all counts, yet you still brand their enterprise “stupid”.
hmmm…
Posted by Mike on July 15, 2008 at 1159 hrs"We should be encouraging more people to use reusable bags. It’s not hard. Used in combination with good recycling programs, ultimately it does cut down on waste. Why would you be opposed to that?”
Using non-recycled paper bags and throwing them out is, comparatively, good for the envirnment. Paper is made from trees that are grown on tree farms. When demand for non-recycled paper increases, more trees are planted. Trees are good for the environment. They make oxygen. Recyling paper is an industrial process that requires about twice as much transportation than making paper from scratch too. Basically, if you are using one of these bags in place of plastic, that’s good. If you are using one in place of paper bags, it’s not good.
Posted by jesusisjustalrightwithme on July 15, 2008 at 1200 hrsThey are running a public awareness campaign.
Good. They should keep it up.
They are handing out free bags (albeit not where you would apparently do it).
Great, but as long as they are handing them out to people who want them AND people who don’t, they are wasting a good number of them.
People who want a reusable bags are getting them.
And so are people who don’t.
They are not clogging a landfill.
The use of “clogging” was a bit of hyperbole, but many will certainly end up there.
They are succeeding on all counts, yet you still brand their enterprise “stupid”.
Define “succeeding.” And I branded this program stupid - not their entire enterprise.
I do find it highly entertaining the reaction this post is getting. I put it up after a quick
Posted by Owen on July 15, 2008 at 1220 hrs
and a chuckle as a bit of light entertainment for the morning. Yet it has generated such a heated response - which leads to more s and chuckles on my part. Thanks, guys. I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that some of you seem to be taking issue with a FREE, non-taxpayer funded program to get reusable shopping bags to people.
I myself have no problem with it - if they want to throw money at this problem, have at it! Whoever makes the bags is going to benefit, so that’s good.
However, people are what they are: you don’t value what you get for free.
If you don’t value the item, you’ll never use it. You’ve got no reason to retain it, or keep it, and throwing away yet another item of clutter is easier than finding a place for it.
This might mark me as a cranky person, but, really, it’s just the way things are.
Posted by Brian Dunbar on July 15, 2008 at 1228 hrsUsing reusable bags is the right thing to do, but this is brilliant marketing. The herd mentality in Shorewood will now be in full effect. There is no longer any excuse for a Shorewoodian to use anything other than a reusable bag. If you use plastic bags anywhere within Shorewood from now on expect to get glares of disapproval.
It reminds me of the Dr. Seuss story is about the Star-Belly Sneetches.
Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.The snooty Star-Belly Sneetches decided that they were better than the Plain-Belly sort and would purposely exclude them from “frankfurter roasts or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts.”
Wise to this stargregation, Sylvester McMonkey McBean entered the scene and “put together a very particular machine” that put stars upon the bellies of the Plain-Belly Sneetches for three dollars each.
So what do we soon have? All Sneetches with stars upon thars!
Clever McBean didn’t end there, for he realized the original Star-Belly Sneetches became distinctly aware… with all sneetches now resembled alike, their upturned noses and sense of betterment could now take a hike!
Rereading Dr. Seuss as an adult is one of the millions of perks of having a child.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1339 hrsRereading Dr. Seuss as an adult is one of the millions of perks of having a child.
It is. The flip-side is you sometimes must read ‘The Lorax’.
Posted by Brian Dunbar on July 15, 2008 at 1346 hrsI think you might need to read the Lorax again.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1358 hrsPshaw - I’ve got entire chunks of it memorized. Not as much as ‘Horton Hatches The Egg’, but enough.
The Once-ler doesn’t get enough credit. He creates jobs, sells people a product they desire. He’s busy creating wealth.
The Lorax .. well all he can do is sort of stand around and pitch a hissy fit. he doesn’t actually DO anything. What kind of a protagonist is that?
If the Once-ler doesn’t behave as a rational actor would .. well I blame the author mis-understanding how a modern economy works.
It’s funny - the older Mr. Geisel got, the less fun he is to read. No one likes being moralized to and tword the end that’s all he was doing.
Posted by Brian Dunbar on July 15, 2008 at 1419 hrsI couldn’t help but notice that the article didn’t mention where the bags were manufactured.
(Also, I expect the herd to reject bags printed with local advertising in favor of Trader Joes or Whole Foods branded bags. I don’t know where those were manufactured, either.)
Posted by HeatherRadish on July 15, 2008 at 1422 hrsAside to xxp: What would stop you from putting some groceries in the cloth bag and the rest in plastic so you still have a stockpile of plastic bags for garbage?
Owen, et. al.: I have at least 10-20 cloth bags that were “free” at conferences, charity events, etc. They make great grocery bags, and you just keep them in the car so you don’t forget them.
Yes, it might make more sense to have freebie bags available to customers entering the store, but it’s also an advertising buy for the sponsers, so they want those bags in as many hands as possible. Don’t want the bag that shows up at your house? Ask a neighbor, friend or relative if they want it. Not hard.
Are the people poo-pooing this the same who can’t be bothered to save a little money by clipping coupons? I suspect as much.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1437 hrsI have at least 10-20 cloth bags that were “free” at conferences, charity events, etc. They make great grocery bags, and you just keep them in the car so you don’t forget them.
This is true for you. But my point (people don’t value what they get for free) remains.
Are the people poo-pooing this the same who can’t be bothered to save a little money by clipping coupons? I suspect as much.
Not the same kinda of deal.
If I clip coupons, I save money. My choice of bags doesn’t affect the cost of groceries at the register.
Yes, there are stores where this is true - but the one store in my area where this is true -Aldi’s - is far away and doesn’t carry all the groceries I need.
Posted by Brian Dunbar on July 15, 2008 at 1501 hrsA few years back Roundy’s was offering washable cloth bags on Earth Day. I still have them (seven) and they are much better than paper or plastic, especially for heavier items.
I also get 5 cent credit (10 cents at Sentry) for using my own bags at Roundy’s stores. It just makes it easier to haul stuff and not having to worry about bags breaking.
I also have a couple bags from C-Span from a convention I attended in Milwaukee last year. The bags from Roundy’s were manaufactured in Fond du lac and the C-Span bags read: “Crafted with pride in America”.
Anything that can be done to convince people to reuse, reduce and recycle is good for everyone. I would call this a conservative practice that everyone can do.
Why political “conservatives” find fault the practice in Shorewood is beyond my understanding.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1504 hrsAside to xxp: What would stop you from putting some groceries in the cloth bag and the rest in plastic so you still have a stockpile of plastic bags for garbage?
Actually I generally use about the same amount of bags in a week that I need for my groceries.
The only bags I throw out are ones that get ripped beyond use. The rest all go in a cupboard for use later. If anything I usually start running low on bags (as I said, i pack my bags full as I can) and might occasionally grab an extra bag and stuff it in with the others.
On a side note, the worst baggers in the world are the stores OWN baggers. (at least at my pick-n-save) Those kids seem to think everything needs its own bag. I can go and bag all my stuff in 3 or 4 bags if I bag myself. The store baggers use at least 10 or 12 bags for the same items.
Why political “conservatives” find fault the practice in Shorewood is beyond my understanding.
I don’t know if “fault” is the word, but just a little more in-depth analyzation of the situation if you ask me.
Anything that can be done to convince people to reuse, reduce and recycle is good for everyone. I would call this a conservative practice that everyone can do.
“waste” for the sake of carelessness or apathy is stupid. I agree.
But time and money are the 2 resources most people don’t have enough of. There are many instances where disposable products can save you a great deal of time. I think everyone should evaluate for themselves what the best use of their resources are and in what instances disposable products are the best allocation of resources and when re-usable products are the best.
Its fine to share your experiences but people need to be stop short of pushing their beliefs and bahaviors (of whatever nature they are) on others.
And lastly, people who are green cause its “trendy” really irritate the hell out of me.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 1542 hrsReduce, reuse, recycle. That’s exactly what I do. I reduce the number of bags needed by maximizing my at-once purchases at the grocery store. Then, I reuse the bags for recycling recepticles; paper for paper, and plastic for mixed bottles and cans. Last, they go out to the curb where they are recycled with their respective contents.
If someone dropped a “reusable” (I suppose it is techincally *more* reuseable than mine, as the number of times it is reused is higher) bag on my doorstep, I might use it for kindling, but then I’d have to buy carbon offsets from Al Gore, so I’d most likely end up throwing it away or using it to sop up engine fluids from my race car.
I don’t see Owen as being unreasonable here. If I were to start a program to reduce x by increasing x, I’d hope to God that someone would call me on it.
Posted by Mike Gallo on July 15, 2008 at 1759 hrsI believe that fewer than 10% will be thrown away. Reusable grocery bags are cloth, are well constructed to carry quite a bit of weight, and are great for a number of things. I bought a couple to use for groceries and I forget them nearly all the time. But they are definitely in use for other things. You can ALWAYS use another tote bag (well at least you can if you have XX chromosomes).
If they were offered free, I would take them, but I doubt my success rate in actually using them for groceries would improve. I need a certain number of plastic bags anyway, because I have a dog. I reuse plastic grocery bags, plastic veggie bags, the plastic bags the newspaper is wrapped in....[but assuredly only once].
Verification word = cost.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 2028 hrsI need a certain number of plastic bags anyway, because I have a dog. I reuse plastic grocery bags, plastic veggie bags, the plastic bags the newspaper is wrapped in....[but assuredly only once].
lol
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 2113 hrs"Why political “conservatives” find fault the practice in Shorewood is beyond my understanding.”
Let me help Adam. Because it is Shorewood and it represents everything these guys resent.
Because we get things done in Shorewood with a minimum of griping and needless dead-end “philosophies” getting in the way.
You why we do these things in Shorewood boys? It’s called innovation and thinking beyond the next ten minutes. We know it will take decades and even centuries for one plastic bag to degrade, so we are coming up with ideas to handle these problems.
That’s called trying things. Like the time I saw in the Toronto Star a program to get convicts out on farms. When a member of the city council was asked what happens if the program is not successful he replied, “well I guess we try something else.”
As the price of gas continues to climb, living in places like Shorewood will become seen as a smart idea, while the SUV crowd out in the ex-urbs are paying $200 for every semi-weekly fill-up as they see the value of their McMansions plummet.
Try coming up with solutions some time. It really doesn’t hurt.
Posted by on July 15, 2008 at 2212 hrsLike the time I saw in the Toronto Star a program to get convicts out on farms.
Interesting to see that the latest penal fad in Canada is an idea they’ve been using in Texas for over a hundred years. .
What’s next - executing retarded adults? Canada - I never knew ye.
Posted by Brian Dunbar on July 15, 2008 at 2300 hrsI read this article and i am impress. So it’s very interesting article. i would like to suggest to everyone to read this article. Even in india people do celebrate raksha bandhan and Send Rakhi to India with great gesture and enthusiasm.
Posted by Gifts to India on July 16, 2008 at 0907 hrsBecause we get things done in Shorewood with a minimum of griping and needless dead-end “philosophies” getting in the way.
You know Keith. The constitution was built upon a philosphy.
Having principles to live by is a good thing.
When a member of the city council was asked what happens if the program is not successful he replied, “well I guess we try something else.”
Sure… Fuck, why not just keep trying everything until something sticks to the wall. Its not their money.
Typical idiotic government mentality.
As for the geniuses in Shorewood:
http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/iteam/21590464.html
“You look at the details and you say, ‘I wish I would have done this,’ but you really can’t look at a job in hindsight. It will drive you crazy and you’ll never go forward,” Swartz says.
In this case it appears they didn’t look at a job with foresight either.
You why we do these things in Shorewood boys? It’s called innovation and thinking beyond the next ten minutes.
Is that the kind of innovation you’re talking about Keith?
Posted by on July 16, 2008 at 0925 hrs So far just about everything you have written about pilot indicates your deep abiding love for the status quo.
I don’t have all day to post on blogs like you do so let me take one point. Yes, the framers of the constitution had a philosophy as do many of us, but it is mixed with a healthy does of pragmatism, having an affinity for results and a desire to try something new. Harkening back to the Declaration of Independence, another product of this group, the busted the status quo and look to get read of their King George.
What we have been faced with over the past 25 years is a rigid, now proven unworkable, dogma that has been sold and sometimes shoved down our throats.
It is time to try new things and that in its small what the cloth shopping bag is all about.
We like to solve things, not get wrapped up in our pleasing divorced from reality philosophies.
We are moving on from Reagonomics and in the insanities of Grover Norquist. See ya later.
Posted by on July 16, 2008 at 1001 hrsI see no comment on the geniuses in Shorewood and their streetscape project Keith? Do you not agree that a little foresight there was lacking?
So far just about everything you have written about pilot indicates your deep abiding love for the status quo.
You either aren’t paying attention or failed reading comprehension. To the contrary Keith. I’m a libertarian. If I was in charge I’d be changing lots of things.
You may have been too busy patting yourself on the back, or perhaps too defensive to see it, but if you read #14 I specifically said that I admire the people in Shorewood in principle for doing something outside of government.
And in fact, when its outside the scope of government, I actually support 100% peoples initiative to try and err as much as they want as a method of acheiving a goal.
If you go back and read my comments in this thread, pretty much the only thing I was dissing was:
And lastly, people who are green cause its “trendy” really irritate the hell out of me.
I suppose I should have added snooty east-siders who think they are better than other people to that comment.
A point you drove home and exemplified in your comment #31
Posted by on July 16, 2008 at 1102 hrsUm, actually, the bags are made of recycled plastic (no. 5) and if people don’t want them, they can recycle them.
Posted by on July 17, 2008 at 2019 hrsPurrfect mamma--
Three suggestions for remembering to use the cloth bags in the car from my experience:
1. Put a sticky note on the dash---that helped me a little;
2. One friend, when she realizes she has forgotten her bags, just puts the groceries back in the cart and loads them in her bags in the car. She says she gets strange looks, but at least she’s not bringing another plastic or paper bag into her house;
3. Suggest to your local grocery store to put a sign up at the entrance along the lines of “Did you remember your cloth bag?” That’s actually what got me in the habit (although I didn’t make the suggestion!)Habits are hard to break, but not impossible.
Posted by mkeproud on July 19, 2008 at 0822 hrsThose who are in the best place to judge rarely do. I am glad to see this debate and there are many who care about the future of this planet and care about their kids and their grandkids and the resources we leave them. There are high energy costs in producing both paper and plastic bags and getting it to the user. As one person said, habits are hard to break, but not impossible. Bravo for trying to make a difference.
Posted by on July 29, 2008 at 0934 hrs
Ol' Army
