[ntkachov]

So living in austin, I can tell you that the source of these "highly durable reusable bags" is the local supermarket, HEB. They charge you $.25 per bag every time you ask for one. $.25 on a single bag isn't a big deal for most shoppers so, generally, I don't see too many people brining their reusable bags back in. The upside to this is that you actually have more people walking out with their groceries in their hands. But I bet that if you were to tell HEB to start using paper bags like everyone else you would see more paper bags in the recycler than plastic. Because I literally have not been to a single other store that sells plastic bags instead of paper ones.

[Chromozon]

I remember when the ban first came about, HEB would make you buy the reusable canvas bags instead of having those heavy duty plastic bags. I don't know why they switched. Like you said, every other store in town will give you recyclable paper bags if you forget to bring your own reusables. Unfortunately, since HEB is the only low cost grocery store in town (besides Super Targets and Walmarts), their decision to give out an alternative plastic bag is hurting the effort of the ban.

[chiph]

I ended up ordering a carton of the thin plastic bags off Amazon.

Before: I would get two uses out of them (carrying groceries and disposing of used cat litter)

After: I get a single use out of them.

The cat is happy either way, but which makes more sense?