I am writing in response to Tuesday's guest column, "Cloth bags a more environmental, more practical choice." I am an employee at a local Publix. When customers buy fewer than three items, I ask if they need a bag.
I have come to the conclusion that customers don't feel safe carrying items out of the store without a bag because they think someone may stop them for shoplifting. You get a receipt for a reason.
Customers are not required to have a bag, and grocery stores actually encourage customers to use fewer bags.
In addition, I would like to let readers and the environmentalists out there know that paper bags are just as bad, if not worse, than plastic bags, because they cost more to make in terms of resources and money.
A study by Franklin Associates Ltd. shows, overall, two plastic bags use 72 percent fewer pollutants than one paper bag to make - something not many people consider.
So, lesson learned: no bag > cloth > plastic > paper.
