supermarkets

Either Massachusetts' shoppers are using more reusable bags when visiting supermarkets or they're just carting away less food.

Yesterday, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Food Association announced that Massachusetts consumers used 25 percent fewer disposable paper and plastic bags this year than in 2007.

As part of the voluntary initiative, 12 supermarket chains, comprised of 384 stores representing over two-thirds of the industry in Massachusetts, have been participating in the effort by tracking annual paper and plastic bag usage.

The goal is to achieve a reduction of 33 percent by 2013.

(All I know is that I have about 30 cloth bags sitting in my front closet ... I either never have one with me or I end up buying more food than I expected and need more than one bag ...)