Plastic degrades very slowly. This is not good for our ecosystem, so most of your major grocery store chains (not mom & pop stores) are moving towards burlap or cotton reusable shopping bags, offered at the front check-out counters. These usually cost a buck, and have the store's logo on it. I know at least the Ralphs and Albertson's chains in the west will give you a 5-cent coupon scan for every bag used to shop. So they pay for themselves in about a year or two. Think of how much less plastic is being used and the money you'll save helping our planet!!