The problem my wife says is that, "the NORTHERNERS do NOT bring their reusable bags with them."

One of the main reasons I want to move there is precisely the Covanta plant. No longer have to separate recycling (actually I’ve never done that in the first place - most people don’t understand what makes something recyclable). And now that Covanta does it this way, everything is recyclable! You should be glad that the grocery stores don’t dispense with plastic bags. I come from California (work) where plastic bags have been banned, but they didn’t ban all plastics, which doesn’t make sense, just plastic bags. So the bags you put your produce in, and all the plastics that are used like the plastic rings that bottled (plastic) sodas come in are okay. What??? And nobody at the stores can tell you what is done with the money they collect from bag sales. You think that the state of California uses that money to pick up the bags that are discarded and left blowing in the wind, which is exactly what they were trying to avoid.

This reminds me of what my husband always says about heaven - it’s a fallacy to think you could get a bunch of people living together without someone complaining about something.

Stereotype random thoughts, upbringing, 10 year study on the subject asking each individual entering with or without bags where were you born and raised?

Or no clue but it’s always good to place blame with little knowledge of facts.

I would be embarrassed to admit that about my spouse, if that was what my spouse said.

Most "northerners" came from states that already do recycling, already value the idea of re-using plastics rather than disposing of them, and already embrace the idea of cloth bags for dry shelf-stable goods, and thermal bags for refrigerated/frozen/heated goods.

Yes, we waste stuff. We throw things away, we don't grow all our own food and milk our own cows or have chickens who lay our eggs for us here in The Villages. But some of us came from those environments. The "north" is filled with large farms, small farms, off-grid self-sustaining homesteads, people who have compost heaps in their back yards, and so on.

Might want to teach your wife that. Lumping everyone who grew up in the north with blanket statements is a sign of ignorance. If I was your wife and read what you said about me I'd probably have you sleeping in the laundry shed for the next month.

Grocery Store plastic bags
 

Where were these studies when the environmentalists forced us to use paper over plastic? Re-useable bags spread germs.

Not if you clean them. Cloth bags can be put in the washing machine and the dryer. Most people I know use tote bags when they go to the pool - how often do you think they wash those tote bags?

We did not abandon recycling. Recycling abandoned us. A large part of the recycling bins end up in landfills.

I bring my own cloth bags. Maybe the sores in Florida should REWARD their customers that bring in their own cloth bags. Maybe something small as a reward like a 3% discount on purchases.

It's NOT complaining when people are posting their solutions to a REAL WORLD problem. Years ago no one wore seat belts. Now no one would think NOT to use them. In the same way people could be made to move away from HARMFUL plastics.

So, looks like the Oil and Gas industry has messed up America in more ways than one. As to Teflon coated pans - apparently cast iron cookware is superior in every way. Funny how sometimes the best solution is to look backwards toward the OLDER time tested methods.
.......I wonder if the US Amish population have less micro particles floating around in their blood streams. I imagine that they avoid PLASTICS as much as possible.

I hate the whole concept of tips. Very old-fashion! A restaurant or other business should pay their people and have "NO TIPPING" signs on their doors and everywhere, until that STUPID system is abolished!

A perfect example of the word, "rationalization"! I will continue doing something wrong for the environment (using plastic bags) BECAUSE........and then I will express some example of something that I find WORSE (like commuting between 2 homes).
........It is ALMOST like saying, "maybe I did rob someone of some money, but at least, I did NOT kill them".

Unfortunately 3% is not a "small" reward. For many of the larger stores 3% is the profit margin.

I do like the "reward" idea though...maybe open the store 1/2 hour early for all those with cloth bags? Pick out one item on a selected rack for every (say) $40 that you spend shopping that trip? Something along those lines.

Plastic
 

Do you not use plastic bags in your trash receptacle in your house ?
What is your trash and recycling
bins made of ?
Do you not drive a car with plastic
components in it ?
Do you use bath towels with a blend of cotton and plastic ?
How about your washer and dryer , any plastic ?
How bout paper towels ?
Golf cart ?
Shoes ?
Clothing ?
You might rethink what you’re buying .if your really concerned about plastics in
Our environment. .
Not meant to be disrespectful, most people don’t realize what
items in our houses and cars are made out of plastic , besides grocery bags .

You buy an old ladies purse and also carry around a garden tool. Then put the droppings in the garbage if you want. Personally, if i had a dog, I would put the dropping around flowers or some other plant around my house as fertilizer.