Grocery and retail stores in the United States hand out 95 billion to 100 billion plastic bags each year, according to the Society of the Plastics Industry, a national trade organization. The best defense against a deluge of plastic into your home (and the environment) is a reusable bag. The ACME Workhorse Style 1500 ($10, www.reusablebags.com) is made of lightweight, tear-resistant nylon, holds more than 25 pounds, and is machine washable. It fits over checkout frames yet folds up into a 3 1/2-inch-square pouch (attached to the inside of the bag) — easy to carry in your purse for that after-work stop for milk and eggs. And "1500" isn't just a model number: Over its lifetime, this bag can eliminate the need for more than 1,500 plastic ones.