Reusable shopping bags are meant to reduce dependence on single use plastic bags, but many households end up with far more bags than they actually need. Bags collected from supermarkets, events and other giveaways can gradually fill kitchen cupboards, storage areas and car trunks.
Having a large collection is not considered a major environmental problem by itself, but keeping more bags than can be regularly used can create unnecessary clutter. Environmental experts say the main benefit of reusable bags comes from using them repeatedly rather than simply owning them.
Reusable bags also require energy and natural resources to manufacture. The environmental impact varies depending on the material and type of bag. Thicker and more durable bags can require more resources to produce and therefore need to be used many times to make their environmental benefits worthwhile.
For households with too many bags, a practical approach is to keep the ones that are strongest and most useful and give away the rest. A few can be assigned specific purposes, such as carrying groceries, library books or packed lunches. Keeping them in visible and convenient places can also make it easier to remember to take them when leaving home.
Extra bags can be donated to food banks, shelters, thrift stores and other community organisations that can put them to use. Some organisations use donated bags to distribute food, books, clothing and pet supplies.
Reusable bags generally cannot be placed in ordinary curbside recycling collections, so simply putting unwanted bags into a recycling bin may not be the best option. Bags that are still clean and usable are better suited for donation or reuse.
Another way to prevent the collection from growing is to avoid accepting additional bags when they are not needed. If a reusable bag is forgotten during a shopping trip, using a cardboard box or another available option can be a simple alternative.
The goal is not to own as many reusable bags as possible but to make regular use of the ones already available. A smaller collection of durable bags that are used repeatedly can serve its purpose while keeping homes less cluttered.