In a small attempt to reduce pollution and thereby save the world, I make an effort to refuse the offer of a plastic bag at the checkout counter.  Sometimes it's hard to get around, such as when I buy a bunch of oddly-shaped food items that (a) don't have handles and (b) don't form a reasonable pile in my arms.  But most times, I can easily fit all my items in the same hands that carried said items to the checkout counter in the first place. 

I've found that certain stores are more understanding of this than others.  Or, more accurately, certain cashiers.  Most times I say "I don't need a bag," I experience some sort of hassle.  For example, at one store, instead of giving me zero bags, the cashier actually gave me two (double-bagged), saying, "These bags are really flimsy.  You'll need more than one."  I politely thanked her for her mind-blowing insightfulness and went on my way.  At another store, when buying two t-shirts and declining to have them in a bag, the cashier looked at me in dumbfounded amazement.  "Carry your t-shirts to your car ... in your ... hands?  Good God."  The most common experience is the "whoops I already put your stuff in a bag, so ... you'll just have to take the bag."  It feels good to be part of the same species as these people. 

Add another point to the self-checkout bandwagon.  In addition to doing it myself, I get to make my no-bag choice without even trying to explain it to someone.  Similar to the self-checkout line is the "bag your own" line at supermarkets.  I don't really know why these lines exist, other than to satisfy crotchety and/or weird people who like to package their food items by color, and people who want to cut down on plastic bag use. 

I realize there's a simple solution to all this:  Bring my own bags.  I could easily tote around a cloth bag that's not only environmentally friendly, but also comfortable and fashionable.  But here's the problem:  I'm a dude.  I don't carry bags unless they're made of plastic and/or contain sharp metal objects.  I'm sorry, but I really can't get over that.  An alternative is to use one of those ACME nylon bags that I oddly enough just received as a Christmas present a few weeks ago (and that was written about on Cool Tools just yesterday).  But that would require me to remember to bring it into the store with me, not to mention build up the courage to take it out at the cash register and sheepishly ask the cashier to put my juice and candy into my cute little nylon baggie.  There's a psychological aspect to all this, and I don't think many people realize it. 

A huge way to cut down on plastic bag usage would be to get retailers on board.  Not only would it make my life easier when I try to decline a bag, but it would make it more common and acceptable.  And when things like that become "company policy" and your company has 20,000 stores around the country, you start to make a difference. 

The other way to make an impact would be to use incentives.  For example, I know certain stores reward customers who use their own bags, i.e. they pay you like $0.05 per bag or something pitiful like that.  I'm sure there are people who are motivated by things like this, but unless it started to add up quick, I wouldn't be interested.  A more powerful motivating factor is punishment.  Financial punishment.  Instead of rewarding people for bringing their own bags, charge people for using store bags.  Like, a lot.  If plastic bags cost $0.25 or $0.50 each, I wouldn't be caught dead with one.  And just like that, you have a life-long convert.  I hope someone important reads this. #business