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the "new" good ol' days

I enjoy using Target pharmacy. I can browse with a purpose. It might be 15 minutes; it might be thirty; but I'm not wasting time. I am waiting on medicine. (a good and noble cause!)

But yesterday I saw something that took me aback, and I'm still not sure what I think of it.

Target has recycled its plastic bags into a somewhat heavy duty reusable shopping bag. Bring the bag with you when you come to the store, and you leave with your stuff in one bag. All for the price of $5.99. BUT, if you buy a $4.95 magazine, the cover comes off and is designed to make an envelope to recycle Target bags. Mail the envelope full of old Target plastic bags, and they'll mail you a $5.99 bag for FREE!

I'm all for recycling. I enjoyed the aspect of China where you took your own basket to the market, eliminating the need for plastic bags. But there's the catch - in China you shop either every day, or every other day. Any necessity you need to buy is within a 5 minute walk of your apartment. But America is not China. I drive to the store, and stock up on enough supplies to last a week, or two, or a month. So one little, bitty bag won't cut it for me.

I also like Target's plastic shopping bags. I reuse them as trash bags for all my small garbage cans. They're a whole lot sturdier than Wal-mart's or Food Lion's bags, and I don't have to worry about how heavy an item is before I place it into the little trash cans.

I'm also puzzled why Target is SELLING recycled bags if they are truly so concerned about the environment. All those huge "purses" they're selling at the front of the store (you know, with Wonder Woman, the big spoons, etc)- well, turns out they're actually reusable shopping bags. At least that's how they're promoting them on-line.

Talk about supply and demand. Oh, you've got too much stuff for this bag? No problem, we have a huge selection of bags right here. Go grab one really quick. They're all under 14.99! Oh, forgot your bag again? No problem! Here, buy a recycled Target bag for $5.99. Well, yes, there is a slight hole where the bags didn't quite melt together, but it should last you until you get home and the dogs jump on it, or you bump into the door frame going in.

I'm all for recycling, but I'm also for common sense. Does that make me environmentally unfriendly?

Comments

Jennifer said…
I love those Target bags too! They are much better than all the other stores! I just hope they don't get rid of them all together one day!
Lydia said…
You make me laugh. Mostly because I agree with you. I like the idea of being able to buy a reusable shopping bag and then going to the market everyday for fresh food, like they do in France or even Senegal. Here in the U.S. though it's just not feasible for this family!

I enjoyed talking with you yesterday!

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