1. Use Reusable Shopping Bags

By law, large grocery stores and pharmacies are now required to offer reusable bags for sale to customers. Reusable bags are more environmentally friendly than paper or plastic.

2. Refuse A Plastic Bag

When at the store, cashiers want to keep lines moving and often don't ask if you need a bag or what kind of bag you do want. When this happens, kindly hand back the bag and explain why you don't want it.

3. Recycle Them

Bring your plastic shopping bags back to large supermarkets or pharmacies for recycling: as part of CAW-sponsored AB 2449, large groceries must offer free recycling of plastic bags. Recycling bags in-store is a better bet than tring to do it in your curbside program as most curbside programs do not accept plastic shopping bags.

4. Reuse Them

Most plastic bags find reuse as garbage can liners or doggie litter collectors. However, there are many other ways to reuse plastic bags, from use as packing material, use as a non-stick surface for rolling dough or even as a fun arts and craft project.

5. Get Stores to Offer Cash Credits When Bringing In Your Own Bags

Suggest that your store offers a credit when you bring in reusable bags.