Publix Makes Recycling Ridiculously Easy
One of the most popular reasons I come across for people not taking some simple steps to more sustainable living is a lack of convenience. For example, it's just easier to use the plastic bags at the grocery store and throw them in the trash at home than to bring your own reusable cloth or canvas bags to the store or at least taking the plastic grocery bags to a recycling location.
This morning as I made my traditional Saturday morning Publix donut run, I realized that such inconveniences cease to exist if you too shop at Publix.
As you can see from the picture above, outside the Publix here in Hermitage, TN, there are four recycling bins to the right of the doors. How convenient!
Here's an idea to make recycling a breeze: Keep some cardboard boxes or some big cloth/canvas shopping bags (try Enviro-Tote) in the trunk of your car to transfer your groceries into. Then all you do is march back up to the door and, VOILA! you've just recycled your plastic grocery bags.
The four containers can be used to recycle:
- Plastic bags
- Paper bags
- Foam Egg cartons (not cardboard ones)
Kudos to Publix for their many efforts towards making it more convenient for their shoppers to live green. If you haven't seen it, be sure to pick up a copy of their free GreenWise Market Magazine next time you're in there.
Do you know if your grocery store takes steps towards living green and helping their shoppers do so as well? If so, please share in the comments.
Albertsons already does this, and they do it regardless of whether the green bags say "Albertsons" or not!
i totally agree erin! i make a point to suggest that almost every time i'm in Publix.
Publix does a great job with what has been mentioned above, but I wish they would go one step further with a discount, say 5 cents, for each reusable bag brought in by their customers. I have seen this done with great effect in other major chains around the country. This encourages their customers to get something for their green efforts, and helps keep the plastic bags from getting used in the first place. Does anyone know of a group trying to get Publix to do this?
I actually take ALL of my styrofoam cups, packing materials, etc. to our Publix & have never had a problem.
great idea todd! since this is a little bit older post, you might enjoy my 4 favorite reusable canvas bags as well. I'm actually fixing to come out with a post about reusable bags that are organic, hemp, or otherwise ESPECIALLY eco-friendly...but shhh, don't tell anyone ;-).
Better yet, you could just put your groceries back into your cart (no bags) and transfer them to your own bags in your trunk. I just put the groceries right in the trunk...no bags at all! This way we don't spend the energy recycling the bags!