It has happened to every owner of recycle bags. You go to the store, load up the shopping cart, head to the cashier and it hits you — the reusable bags are at home. While this is not an ideal situation, it is certainly not a catastrophe.

Once you have realized you forgot your recycle bags, assess the situation. For example, how many items are in today’s purchase? If the purchase entails a few small things, can you manage throwing them in your purse or carrying them without a bag? If you don’t use public transportation and your car is nearby, carrying the items is usually an easy option.

If there are several products in the purchase, however, determine what items need bagged. Generally larger items such as milk containers, 2-liter bottles, cereal boxes, etc., can be put back into the shopping cart without being bagged. Additionally, take note of how the items are being bagged and request a minimal amount of plastic bags be used. Sure the vegetables and meats should be separate, but there are plenty of items that can safely travel together in a bag.

Depending on the store, consider asking for a large box to carry the items in. Warehouse outlets often utilize excess boxes to pack their shopper’s purchases. This same theory can be put into practice at the grocery store.

If there are no boxes available and the purchase is too large to cram into a purse, there is also the option of purchasing recycle bags at the store. This option is not always ideal because it is an unexpected cost and the bags you purchase may not boast the type of quality you are accustomed to.

For those shoppers who have a habit of forgetting their recycle bags, consider purchasing a shopping system that is generally easier to remember. For example, the iTySE Shopping System features stylish purses that carry small, mesh environment bags. For male consumers, the system also includes a small carry case that can easily be thrown in the car where it is more likely to be remembered.