A few years ago, when helping clients declutter, we would find plastic bags full of plastic bags. It was pretty easy to recycle them. Nowadays, in addition to plastic bags, we’re also finding reusable bags full of reusable bags. These are not recyclable, so they pile up inside closets, cupboards, and car trunks. The situation may get even worse. Soon single-use plastic bags will be phased out forcing people who forget their reusable bags (up to 40% of us) to buy even more of them.
The first step to declutter your reusable bags is to stop bringing more of them home! Do not accept free bags! Most of the time those bags are flimsy, ugly, and you’ll never use them again anyway. Next, get organized and start reusing the bags you already have.
Sort and Choose
To declutter your reusable bags, gather them from around your house and place them in one spot. Decide what each bag will be used for. This can include:
- Shopping – grocery and other types of shopping
- Taking laundry to/from the laundromat
- Carrying items to/from the gym, playgroup, library, etc.
- Storing sheet sets in the linen closet
- Keeping seasonal clothing separated within large bins
- Organizing clothes and shoes in a suitcase
Determine the number of bags you will need for each purpose. For example, if you have a large family and only grocery shop once per week, you might need a dozen grocery bags. If you’re single and shop several times a week, you may only need one or two bags for grocery shopping.
Choose bags that you like because if you like your bags, you will use them more often. Some people prefer smaller bags because when full, they aren’t as heavy. Some people need bigger bags to carry larger items. Longer handles are good for carrying the bag over your shoulder. Bags with “box bottoms” stand up nicely and are easy to fill. Bags made of thinner fabric take up less space when folded.
Choose bags made from durable material. Check the stitching around the handles and seams to make sure it is solid. Set aside any bags that need repairs. For grocery bags, pick bags that can be washed to prevent foodborne illness.
Organization and Storage
In order to make reusable bags more environmentally feasible than single-use plastic bags, we have to use each one of them over 50 times! That’s hard to do if we forget them. That’s why good organization and logical storage of reusable bags is so important.
Store all of your grocery bags in the largest bag and hang them by the front door or place them in the trunk of the car. You could also fold or roll them and store them in a basket. Store a folded bag in a purse or pocket. They’re great for a quick shopping trip.
Besides storing your bags by the front door or the trunk of the car, here are a few tips to help you remember to take your bags with you when you shop…
- Always put your bags back in the same place after you’ve unpacked
- Write BAGS at the top of your grocery list
- Set an alarm on your phone to ring just before you plan to go shopping
- Always shop with your reusable bags to develop a habit
What to Do With Extra Bags
The Be Fresh Market (Cypress location) has a free bag library. Customers are welcome to donate their reusable bags that are still in good condition. The bags are washed and then given to customers who forget to bring their own bags.
Here are a few more places where you can donate reusable bags:
- Food banks
- Libraries
- Daycare centres and schools
- Senior centres
Shelters and emergency housing centres may also accept bags. They often use smaller-sized bags and drawstring bags to put together with care packages for their temporary residents.
As with any donations, always contact the organization first to see if they will accept your reusable bags. And be kind when donating too. Make sure your reusable bags are clean and in good condition before you give them away.
You can also declutter your reusable bags by giving them away through Freecycle and Buy Nothing Groups.
Learn more about how Out of Chaos can help you make environmentally friendly choices when organizing. Contact us through our website.
