Bring your own bag

Paper bags are just as bad as plastic in their own way, so whenever possible, bring your own bag to the grocery store. Pretty much every grocery store carries their own reusable bags for a small price, including Safeway. Trader Joe's offers a raffle where you can enter to win a $25 gift certificate every time you bring your own bag.

And be sure to tell the over-zealous baggers at Walgreen's when you don't need a bag. They'll have thrown your tiny tube of mascara in its own huge bag before you've even gotten out your wallet! The same goes for retail shopping in general. Bring your own tote bag or consolidate your items into one shopping bag.

On the occasions that you can't bring your own bag, reuse the plastic ones by lining your trash cans with them, donating them to your local dog park for picking up dog poop, or incorporating them into a craft project. Paper bags can be used to collect your recycled items, and hold up to being reused many times over. You can also recycle your plastic bags at Safeway and return the paper ones to Rainbow (and we're guessing this is the case with other stores).

By SFist Leanne