My difficulty is that I want them to use the cloth bags I send, and I put them first on the "belt" before my groceries. They think they should still put meat and various items in plastic bags. I have to tell the cashier and the ****** not to put anything "in plastic, not even meat". On many, many occasions they have tried to refuse. They start long discussions about the meat leaking - - something never happened to me in over 50 years of getting groceries - its not impossible but I get to choose the risk I want to take. I have had at least one dozen very unpleasant conversations at the check-out as they try to force me to accept plastic bags. Yes, I've eventually told managers and asked if they could tell employees not to do that, but they continue to do that. What's up? I do not happen to be "left wing", but they treat me with contempt as if I am. I'm usually treated with contempt by peers/relatives who know I'm "center-right" so getting treated with contempt for not wanting plastic bags just seems like I can't win for losing.
Yes, I read the Wall Street Journal saying using cloth bags might not help the ocean since it is not demonstrably "us" dumping into the ocean. My points (a) It is possible that it helps the ocean (b) It does help prices, even if only a little, to use my own bags (c) I do not need to use these for trash bags - I get one or two every month before I can stop the ****** and that is all I need for any purpose. (d) Waste not, want not - my parents grew up in the depression - I do not want to use 20 bags for four minutes while I drive home, then throw them away. It is a waste. It bothers me to waste.
Others are welcome to use plastic and I will respect their choice (I bring my neighbor her groceries in plastic bags) - just please respect my preference that I don't want to use plastic, for the reasons above, with no lecture.
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