Shopping yesterday at Shaw’s in Porter Square, I was surprised that no paper bags, only “reusable” plastic bags, were available at checkout. When I asked a supervisor, he said I should ask the City of Cambridge — which, I learned, does not permit paper bags at retail stores [Editor’s note: Cambridge requires stores to charge a fee for paper bags]. I was baffled. True, only reusable plastic bags are offered, but if most people are like me, we are by now overwhelmed by “reusable” bags, including plastic bags, and regularly put them in the trash.

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Sam Engelstad / Columbus Avenue, Somerville