I used to think reusable bags were obviously better for the environment, but a cotton tote needs 131 reuses to match a plastic bag's footprint, and I lose mine somewhere between my car and the checkout every other trip. Meanwhile, the city's bag ban has pushed people to buy thicker plastic trash bags, which studies show actually increased plastic waste in some areas. My family is guilty of hoarding a dozen totes we never remember to bring, so I'm wondering—are we just swapping one problem for another? Do reusable bags really make a difference, or are they a feel-good gesture that ignores the real issue of overconsumption?