OK, so, as somebody that's been actively trying to limit the amount of plastic bags I use, this ban is ultimately a step in the right direction. Whether or not that ban extends to those plastic fruit bags as well, we'll see.

I've given more thought to how we might replace them. As SpandauValet rightly pointed out, switching to vinyl is just another plastic. It's more durable, and so, less likely to be disposed, but it's still plastic.

The big contender, and the worrier, is a switch to paper bags. Paper is easier to recycle, but its the manufacture of that paper that's unsettling. It needs to be sustainable, so, paper that's made from 100% reclaimed waste paper; but also durable.

The other problem with paper bags, I've noticed, is that they lack "windows". Some paper bags have plastic windows (like the bread), and that's ultimately so everyone can see what's inside it. And the mushrooms, for instance, have a dedicated mushroom paper bag, but when it comes to other items, it's not so easy.

My advice to anyone thinking on cutting down their plastic usage is to pack as many items loose into a cardboard box as possible. Stuff like prepackaged goods are not an issue in a box. Corn comes in its own neat little wrapper if you can find them as whole ears. Fruit's got its skin. The very delicate items you pack on top. Stuff like potatoes you put at the bottom.