Large paper bags are folded and stuffed between the refrigerator and the wall. Plastic bags are stuffed into one of those fabric tubes that you can buy to hold them. The tube is stuck on the side of the fridge with a magnet. This way, both the paper bags and the plastic bags can't really be seen unless you are looking for them. This is on the system of storing them where you use them.

Reusable shopping bags live in the car. When I bring them in loaded with stuff, they get emptied and then put on the front door handle, to remind me to take them to the car next time I go. (I live in a second floor apartment, so it's not as easy as just stepping from kitchen to garage.)

If you have quite a collection, you might also want to think about setting limits on how many of each you keep. I keep five of the good brown paper bags from Trader Joe's because they have handles, the aforementioned fabric tube stuffed with plastic bags, and five reusable bags--if I buy more stuff than that, I get more plastic bags. Paper bags get used rarely, plastic bags get used daily for cat litter, and reusable bags are used for shopping of all kinds and when I have to take food somewhere (like Thanksgiving, pot-lucks, etc.).

I have never run out of bags, and my storage space doesn't get over crowded.

"Reusable grocery bags, plastic bags, large paper bags, large retail bags "

in the car, in the pantry, don't have those, have no clue what those are

Reusable grocery bags are kept in the trunk of the car.

Plastic grocery bags are in a cloth bag hanging in the spare bathroom- they are reused for garbage.

Paper bags, we rarely get. When we do, the cat gets them to play with.

Large plastic bags, we put in a basket where we keep purchased garbage bags and they are used as garbage bags, often in the shredder or one of the other trashcans that requires a larger bag than a grocery bag.

haha quasifish -- I deliberately get the paper bags once in a while . . . for the cats. Dust some catnip in there and stand back!

I give my extra bags to the thrift shop I deal with. They are happy for them. Walmart has a large barrel for recycling bags also. I have also use the plastic bags from the grocery store in packing stuff to mail.

Reusable grocery bags are kept in the car. I rarely get plastic grocery bags, but the few I have get tossed under the kitchen sink, to be reused for garbage. Paper grocery bags get folded and placed inside another paper bag in the pantry. Large retail bags go in with paper bags.

Reusable bags are on hooks in coat closet. Seldom have paper bags, or large retail bags, but when I do they are stored there as well.

I use plastic grocery bags as trash bags in all trash receptacles, as well as daily litter refuse collection. Extras are stored in pitcher under kitchen sink; in plastic container next to litter box;empty tissue box in bathroom; gallon zip lock bags in utility room.

The way I look at it, getting plastic bags from the grocery saves me from having to ever BUY bags. My trash collection company will not empty the trash can unless everything in it is in a plastic bag.

Put a hook inside pantry and hung a fabric shopping tote for placing reusable bags. When full, empty at recycle station at grocery store. I'm trying to train myself to bring my own bags and cut down on plastic altogether but alas, it's hard to teach an old dog a new trick

I have one of those half-cylinder shaped with several openings things from Ikea on the basement stairwell wall for the plastic bags. I use those for garbage can liners and cat litter -- I never buy plastic trash bags! if I get more than that container full, they go back to the grocery for recycling. Paper bags and large retail bags, I keep 2-3 folded in the basement storage cabinet (the large retail bags come in handy a few times a year for donations etc). Reusable shopping bags go back out to the car when emptied.

Well, the paper bag just makes the kitty so happy :)

I have to agree with what's been said here about setting limits- that is very helpful. Just decide what is a reasonable amount for you to store and use, and get rid of the rest.

We've always used the plastic grocery store bags for garbage, and my MIL use to get very nice, heavy plastic bags from the store where she shopped, so she would save them and give them to us. For a couple of years, I had several of those plastic ice cream buckets with lids, stuffed with grocery bags- and kept them in a spare closet. One day it dawned on me what a clutter burden that was and I got rid of them all. For a while, I started recycling just about all of the grocery bags and went to having a roll of purchased garbage bags. Eventually, I went back to grocery bags when I decided on a storage system that was compact and wouldn't overwhelm me.

I love the idea of using the kleenex box from bbstx. My Mom doesn't get many bags and that would be perfect for her.
Kathy G in MI

Using the idea of a Kleenex box, you can create a cylinder shaped bag (think of a paper towel tube, only bigger) hung from a hook. You scrunch up each bag and shove it in. Then you pull them out of the bottom one at a time. My grandma did that.
Also don't forget those plastic bags are recyclable.
There are women in my area who cut the plastic bags, tie the pieces together and crochet them into tote bags and plastic mats. There is a non-profit organization that sends them to India because people sleep on them. It keeps people off the ground, bugs and water don't bother the 'mat' and it's durable. That was a new idea for me.
Heidi

Entryway closet. When I get a build up of plastic and paper bags I take them to a donations store.

I put newspaper bags in the bathroom for non flush-able wet wipes.

I use a 1/2 gallon milk carton for plastic grocery bags, under the sink. When the carton is full, it moves to the hall closet, easy to grab one or two when we take the dog for a walk. If both containers are full, extra bags go to the neighbors, who have 3 dogs to walk.

I also use kleenex boxes. One holds plastic bags from our morning newspaper. When it is filled, I pass it along to my neighbor who uses them for her puppy's poop.