How to get rid of reusable bags piling up in your home

When visiting her clients, professional home organizer Britnee Tanner frequently discovers extra reusable bags stashed away beneath the kitchen sink or crammed into a corner of the pantry.

"They just are sneaky," said Tanner, who lives in Salt Lake City. "I purchased a handful of these and then somehow I've collected ones I've never purchased, and I don't really know where they've come from."

Reusable totes are designed as long-lasting alternatives to disposable plastic options, yet accumulating an excess from event giveaways and grocery store freebies happens effortlessly.

Because the environmental impact of a reusable tote is relatively modest, gathering a large collection is not a major issue. Still, paring down your stash clears out cluttered cupboards and leaves a smaller collection that will actually be used. Surplus bags can be donated to thrift stores and food pantries.

"You don't want an entire closet of reusable bags," said sustainability scientist Shelie Miller with the University of Michigan. "You want well-loved reusable items, and that's really what gives the environmental benefit."

Reusable bags are helpful but c...