I understand your dilemma. I am trying to put myself in my Grandmother's shoes. She lived to be 94. Anyway, I don't recall her ever using plastic bags to carry groceries home from the grocery store. She used her own handmade bag. She never had the option to get creative with the plastic bags that the stores use nowdays. i.e., using them as a trash can liners, pooper holder, garbage holder, etc. I'm pretty environmentally conscious myself, as it sounds like you are also. Maybe if we put ourselves in our grandparents or great-grandparents shoes for awhile and think, "now what would my Grandma or Grandpa use"? Maybe you could use newspaper?