Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: We use many more plastic bags than necessary! Paper bags can be reused lots of times. Some stores give a rebate for using paper or cloth bags.

I take several large cloth or heavy-mesh tote bags to the grocery store, discount place, etc. I don’t use either paper or plastic at the checkout. The tote bags hold more items, stand up when full and last for many years.

At other stores, such as department or home-improvement stores, I usually take a small mesh bag or a large mesh tote. In the past several years, I have avoided using hundreds of plastic bags, and I’m not a big shopper. I keep the cloth and mesh bags in the trunk of my car at all times. It’s a matter of replacing a wasteful habit with an environmentally good habit. – Mary Lou Hoffman, Richardson, Texas