Reporter Chris Lawrence really nailed it in Tuesday's show:  "Biodegradable, compostable bag" really doesn't have the same ring as "plastic" when you're at the store.  As a former grocery store bagger (it was my very first job), I have to say that plastic bags are easier to pack and carry than paper.  On the other hand, I can't count the number of plastic bags I've seen on the side of the road.

It's not known exactly how long it takes for these things to decompose - estimates I found ranged from a hundred years to thousands.  One thing that seems certain:  The plastic bags we use now are likely to be around a lot longer than we are.  But the biodegradable bags mentioned in today's show cost more, and that could spell out higher grocery prices if they appear at a store near you.  So the question is this:  Would you be willing to pay more for the biodegradable stuff?  And if so, how much more would you be willing to pay?