Americans seem to like choice. Even ordering a ham and cheese sandwich can involve decisions about the type of cheese, type of bread, whether to add salt and pepper, and what greens to include.
Many supermarkets offer a choice of carrier bag, the packer at the checkout will ask “Paper or Plastic”. It seems a pointless decision, as neither option is actually environmentally friendly. Nonetheless, I have to make a choice each time I reach the checkout. However, in nearby San Francisco that burden on the indecisive has been removed. The city council has banned the use of plastic carrier bags altogether.
See this link for details on why neither option is the right one.
I like these ones: http://www.ecosilkbags.com.au
They’re made from “paracute silk”, i.e. nylon not silk at all. But they are very bright and cute, extremely strong, and unlike many other re-usable backs back down very small.