Reusing is way more efficient and better for the planet overall than recycling. Recycling is great, don't get me wrong, but it takes a lot of energy (people and resources) to recycle. Reusing anything makes more sense to me.

Cloth bags are a good example. I have 5 cloth bags that I keep in my vehicle for all my shopping trips. I use my bags not just for groceries, but for trips to the hardware store, the book store, and the yarn store. I can reuse them over and over and over, whereas a plastic bag can only be used a couple of times. My cloth bags were all freebies. They are all made from heavy-weight canvas cloth and have flat bottoms. They stand up by themselves and have long, durable handles. Some even have a pocket on the outside. I also own three nylon bags that I bought at our local market. These are also great for other uses such as holding my knitting projects. These particular ones fold into their own pocket and live in my glove box.

Most plastic bags are made in such a way that they get tears in the seams after one or two uses. And they don't hold much weight. And they don't break down in the landfill. Not to mention all the damage that plastic bags can do to the environment, animal, and plant life. Garbage on the side of the road is never pretty, but plastic bags hanging off bushes and trees are especially tasteless and pervasive, at least in these parts. The one thing that you can reuse plastic grocery bags is for lining small garbage cans. At least this saves on buying separate plastic garbage can liners.

Forming the habit of using your cloth bags takes a bit of work, as with forming any new habit. Here's a TIP: Always put your cloth bags back into the vehicle after unpacking. Keep them in the front seat if you can; or if you have children and/or pets and must put them in the backseat or the trunk, put a sticky note on your dashboard to remind you. Many people don't remember their bags until they are waiting in line to checkout, which is too late.

Now that I have the habit, I feel naked walking into a store without my own bags.