There’s an easy way to get rid of all the reusable bags piling up in your home

NEW YORK (AP) — When professional home organizer Britnee Tanner visits her clients, she often spots extra reusable bags buried under the kitchen sink or stuffed in a corner of the pantry. “They just are sneaky,” said Tanner, who lives in Salt Lake City. “I purchased a handful of these and then somehow I’ve collected ones I’ve never purchased, and I don’t really know where they’ve come from.” Reusable totes are intended as durable alternatives to single-use plastic bags.

But it’s easy to accumulate too many, from freebies at events to giveaways at the grocery store. The environmental impact of a reusable bag is relatively small, so ending up with a sizable stash isn’t a significant problem. Still, paring down can declutter cupboards and lead to a smaller collection that’ll actually get used.

As for the excess, donate to food banks and thrift stores. “You don’t want an entire closet of reusable bags,” said sustainability scientist Shelie Miller with the University of Michigan. “You want well-loved reusable items, and that’s really what gives the environmental benefit.” Reusable bags are helpful but can accumulate Single-use plastic grocery bags aren’t meant to last.

They become urban tumbleweeds or break down in the environment, releasing harmful microplastics. Single-use plastic shopping bags are banned across 12 U.S. states, and several more cities and towns have instituted their own initiatives, including bag taxes.

As a result, many people stock up on reusable bags made from canvas, cloth or thicker plastic. A few solid, durable bags used for errands or groceries can stand the test of time. Environmental economist Kimberly Oremus uses hers for up to a decade.

But whether we intend to or not, additional bags of various shapes and sizes worm their way into our homes. Just like any product, reusable bags require energy and resources to make — like the water that’s used to grow cotton. Researchers have found that the number of times a bag needs to be reused to offset the environmental cost of its production varies widely based on what the bag is made of.