Coming this Earth Day: 5¢ charge for disposable bags

Back in January, I speculated about the possibility that the Davis Food Co-op could begin charging for disposable bags. We took a survey of our members, the management team discussed the proposed bag charge, and we decided that YES, this is a change that Davis shoppers are ready for, and that we have a responsibility as leaders in our foodshed to begin implementing now!

So, beginning this Earth Day (next Friday!) we will charge 5¢ for each large handled paper bag used at check-out. We'll donate all the nickels we charge for paper bags to Tree Davis-- and yes, we will continue to offer a 5¢ credit for each reusable bag (or box or tote or armload) shoppers bring in and use to pack their groceries.

As per our now annual tradition, the Co-op will provide a free reusable bag to the first 1500 shoppers who visit us on Earth Day, April 22, 2011; these are high-quality, limited-edition bags made from bamboo, so be sure to come see us and get your Earth Day bag this year! We'll also give one of these reusable bags away to every shopper whose grocery purchase totals $40 or more between April 23 and May 31 (while supplies last, naturally).

So, why the bag charge now? We made the decision to begin charging for disposable bags this spring in an effort to reduce our consumption of disposable paper bags by 85% by Earth Day 2012. Our GM, Eric Stromberg, crunched some numbers and discovered that, "Each week, DFC gives away 4,500 bags: 642 per day or 233,688 per year. A 15-year-old tree, made into paper grocery bags, yields about 700 bags. So, about one tree per day dies for our shoppers' convenience."

We've offered shoppers credit for bringing their own bags for years now, but it seems that, even for folks who purchase reusable bags and mean to bring them in every time they shop (like me!), the busyness of life gets in the way of making "bring your own bag" a habit. Other co-ops and independent grocers nationwide have reported that implementing a bag charge has meant measurable reductions in their businesses' consumption of disposable bags, pointing to the fact that people can change their habits, when properly motivated ;)

The bag charge isn't our only means of getting folks to remember their bags! There's a large banner hanging over our entrance reminding folks to bring their bags (and save a tree!), and right now we've got a prominent display showing just how many disposable bags our store goes through each day-- it's pretty astonishing to see. Also, in addition to the bags we're giving away on Earth Day and after, we're giving away handy decals that you can put in the window of your house or your car that remind you-- did you bring your bags?