I Hate Plastic Bags
I hate plastic bags & the people who use them
Every day I see Japanese school kids walking around with a single drink in their hand. That drink is wrapped in a plastic bag, they are holding the drink in their hand inside the bag.
Why do they need the bag?
Often I see people who have bought something from the convenience store take their purchases out of the plastic bag, put it into their own bag and then throw away the plastic bag. Why not avoid the plastic bag in the first place?
Avoiding plastic bags is a struggle
Japanese part time workers are good. They are hard working, always give the correct change and are never late to work because they got too stoned the night before. That said it irritates me to deal with them in stores like Family Mart or Hotto Motto.
I have to constantly decline their offers of a plastic bag and disposable chopsticks. It's not like they ask me if I want them, they just reach for them and I have to ask them not to. There is the feeling that it's easier to just go with the flow, but I couldn't live with myself if I did that.
Robotic part time workers of Japan, I'll fight your zombie attitudes in your workplaces.
Eco bags in Japan are cool
I have a rather nice collection of Japanese Eco Bags, some even with interesting Engrish on them. And if I use them at supermarkets like Belc or Daiei I can receive extra points. So it pays to use them.
Does it make much of a difference? Not really. Do I feel good because I avoided using them? Damn straight I do. In fact I'd like to see a ￥10 tax on plastic bags, that'd make a lot of kids think twice if they need a bag for their drink.
9 comments:
They're gonna do that here instead it's going to be 30c or upwards per plastic bag.
I always forget to take my eco bags even though like yourself i have quite a nice collection! If i forget my bags i always tend to buy more eco bags at the store and now i've got a gigantic amount of them around the house. Even when we take them in the car we still manage to forget...Though i'm pretty sure if they started charging for them yasu would remember! He hates parting with $.
In Germany supermarkets and the like don't give out plastic bags. They'll sell you some though, or for a little bit more (usually about 50 Euro cents or 80 yen) a sturdier cotton / jute bag which will last for ever. As this system has been in place 20 years or so, "bringing your own" is part of everyday life, none of this "eco bag" nonsense ;).
On the other hand, despite doing my best to avoid collecting plastic bags here, they still mount up, I used to used them as padding when sending parcels back to Germany, because they make very useful rubbish bags (due to the general lack of readily-available plastic bags there...)
@Azumari
Time to start keeping a certain supply in the car, that way you can always be sure of having enough for when you go shopping.
@Penguin
Looks like Japan has to catch up with Europe then!
You changed your website design?? :) It looks so much better, i have to say. Very much easier on the eyes. :)
Thanks!
I've changed the design on the main 3. Plus updated a couple of the others to remove AdSense.
I started using reusable bags in the US about a year ago, and even though all of the major stores are selling them now, the employees manning the checkout lanes act like they're full of deadly poison - they won't touch them (in the US, it is standard practice for employees to bag your purchases for you while you pay). During my short trip to Japan a couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to see the self-bagging stations at the grocery stores, since this encourages the use of eco bags.
Love the new layout, by the way!
I need the plastic bag. I use them to pick up my dogs poo.
I use my own at most places, even made some of my own. It seems to be quite acceptable to use them but the shop assistants still automatically reach for the plastic so I find you have to be quick to tell them you don't need one.
Now we're faced with a shortage of supermarket bags in the house, for rubbish or for school.
@Aimi
Most shops are "self bag" but it's very convenient for us Eco-Bag users.
@Tornadoes
True, a very important use.
@Blooming
Yes, you need to be VERY quick indeed.
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