Can I have a bag?
POS-so a-VE-re un sak-KET-to
Asking for a carrier bag at the checkout.
In Italy, single-use plastic carrier bags have been banned since 2011 for non-food use and since 2018 for lightweight bags. Supermarkets offer biodegradable bags for produce (small, thin) at 2–3 cents each, and more durable bags for groceries at the checkout. Customers are encouraged to bring their own.
Ho la mia borsa.
I have my own bag.
Declining the bag and stating you have your own
Quanto costa il sacchetto?
How much does the bag cost?
Asking the price before accepting
Me ne dà due — ho tanta roba.
Give me two — I have a lot of things.
Requesting multiple bags for a large shop
Italy's progressive plastic bag bans have been among Europe's most stringent. The 2018 ban on lightweight non-compostable bags for loose produce was challenged by plastic industry lobbies but upheld by the EU Court. Italians have adapted remarkably quickly to reusable bag culture.