<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" In San Francisco this year, the city banned hard-to-recycle plastic bags in grocery stores, and abroad in China, customers are charged for their plastic bag use in stores and supermarkets to reduce litter and waste. Currently, the following U.S. cities are considering fees or bans of plastic bags (according to the AP): Austin, Texas; Bakersfield, California; Boston; New Haven, Connecticut; Portland, Oregon; Phoenix; and Annapolis, Maryland.  If the &amp;quot;I&amp;#039;m Not a Plastic Bag&amp;quot; tote draped over your fellow grocer&amp;#039;s arms is not quite your style, here are some other low-cost alternatives.      Fair Trade  These market bags, made from recycled rice and feed bags, come by way of Southeast Asia, and were then dyed and handcrafted by disadvantaged workers in Cambodia.  Market bag, uncommongoods.com, $28.00     Artsy (shown right) These playfully illustrated 100% recycled cotton totes by Orlando-based artist R. Nichols make for a perfect carryall to the grocery, bookshop or anywhere in between. Shopper tote, r-nichols.com, $24     Yum! (shown left) This tote will have you parading a sweet treat in warm, pastel colors all summer long. Makes a great grab-and-go bag for the beach or a day in the park. Ice cream tote, paulfrank.com, $38 Do you think paper and/or plastic bags should be banned from use in your city? Tell us your thoughts in comments. -Dana Gottesman  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/a42377/reusable-totes-5606/>