Bags, Money, the Environment & You

In our quest to remind people about the costs associated with grocery bags, here are a few numbers, facts and alternatives to make it easier for you to reduce use of paper grocery bags.

Handled grocery bags cost the Wedge 18 cents each! That's why giving you a Green Patch, worth 5 cents each time you use your own grocery bag, is a good deal for us - it saves your co-op 13 cents.

Wedge customers used at least 624,000 handled grocery bags last year. A quick calculation and we learn that cost your business at least $112,320. That's $112,320 less co-op income - and co-op income is what patronage refunds come from! (Not to mention how many trees all those paper bags represent...) In addition, the Wedge uses 4 other sizes of paper bags, so we're talking about even more money and trees.

With all that in mind, here are a few ways to reduce those numbers.

REDUCE with cloth or string bags. The Bag for a Buck deal is back for a limited time only. Earth Day weekend (April 19 & 20) the Wedge will sell cotton string bags for $1.00 each. Use one 20 times and the Green Patches it earns make it free! (Return 20 Green Patches to the cashier, valued at 5¢ each, or return them to the bin by the exit.)

REUSE the Bring Back Bag offered at our check stands. They are free to you, stronger than the average plastic grocery bag - lasting up to 8 shopping trips, and genuinely recycled. Our Front End Manager toured the plant to be sure this is the real thing, not an environmental hype. When they wear out, bring them in and we'll send them back to recycle into more bags. Each time you reuse one you get a Green Patch. These bags also fold up compactly into a purse or pocket, so there's always one handy when you need it. (Come on now, how many times do you walk in here thinking you'll only get one or two items and end up buying a bag full?) Next time you shop, ask for the Bring Back Bag so you can always have one on hand.

RECYCLE with bags made from 100% consumer-recycled plastic bottles. These large, sturdy, handled bags are displayed and sold by the cloth and string bags. Again, these earn you Green Patches every time you use them instead of taking a new paper bag.

So there you are. We hope you enjoy these easy ways to reduce, reuse and recycle!