[Claire]

I've heard that carrier bags are generally thinner than bin bags, so they might actually be better from that point of view. I think I'd use more bags for shopping than I'd need for the bin though, if I didn't use any reusables. I guess the message is to try and minimise the amount of times you take new bags (I've got into the habit now of straightening out my reusable bags, folding them in three along their length, then rolling them up from the closed end and looping one handle over the roll so it stays rolled, immediately after I unpack them, then chucking a couple back in my handbag - I'm sure non-handbag-users can come up with an alternative so you always have a couple with you. They pack down quite small this way.) and to reuse the ones you do take, maybe rougly matching the amount of bags you take to the number you need for bin bags. The pooper scooper sounds like a plan (all this disposing of dog mess is part of what puts me off having a dog!).