REDUCE RE-USE RECYCLE

So as my first installment of “Recommendation Wednesdays,” we’ll start simple.  That’s right, what I’m about to recommend most of you probably already do, but for those of you who don’t it’s time to jump on the band wagon.

I’m talking about reusable bags.  They are readily available almost everywhere, and are very inexpensive.  For example, right now at Ralph’s Market, you can buy one for 99 cents, and get one free! Such a deal!  If you aren’t near a Ralph’s market, don’t fret, as you can find reusable bags at almost every market (Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Vons to name a few) and they are usually no more than a buck each.  Sometimes at places such as Whole Foods, they even donate the proceeds of the reusable bag sales to organizations that are working firsthand to save our environment!

My trick?  I keep all my reusable bags in the trunk of my car, that way I have no excuse not to use them when I go to the market, CVS, the 99 Cent Store, Target, even the mall.  That’s right, don’t forget reusable bags can be used virtually anywhere you would use a plastic or paper bag.  The word on the street is that markets like Trader Joes are going to stop producing plastic bags (Whole Foods has already stopped that) and soon they will be charging you a nickel a bag if you don’t bring your own.

A perk?  Well besides helping save our precious environment, bringing your own reusable bags can put money back in your own pocket.  True thing!  At Trader Joes, every time you bring your own reusable bags, you qualify to enter into a drawing that they have each week that may win you some free groceries. At Ralph’s for every reusable bag you bring in, you get 5 Reward points on your Ralph’s Reward Card.  (At the end of each quarter, Ralph’s sends you great coupons and money back dependent on how many “points” you have.)  And there are many other stores that give reusable bag perks as well.

So, just a friendly reminder on this “Recommendation Wednesday,” do your part for our environment and use those reusable bags instead of that planet killing plastic!  Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle!