You're probably talking about Whole Foods. I think, if enough of their customers knew they were doing that, they would probably make some changes. I'm wondering if there's some kind of stand that could be made to hold the reusable bags while they're being packed that would decrease the packing times.

I think the answer to these problems is what these days is being called 'conscious capitalism'. That's capitalism that values the bottom line, but not to the extent that it sacrifices the planet or hurts people or animals. Chains like Whole Foods rely on attracting customers for whom conscious capitalism is a major consideration when deciding where to shop. Businesses like that have to be responsive to the values of these customers if they want to do well.

I bet a non-profit organization could be established along the lines of Habitat for Humanity, in which people who want to have an experience of being at sea could get that experience for free by volunteering to crew salvage ships that would trawl for trash in the ocean's garbage patches. The operation could be funded the same way that other environmental outfits are, plus they could partner with other organizations that make things using plastic. Environmentally conscious people would pay extra for products made from this plastic if they knew it was being used to fund a cause like this.

Here's an interesting discussion on the subject of conscious capitalism (a little over an hour long)...

http://fora.tv/2008/01/30/Conscious_Capitalism