Japanese convenience ... or waste?

It was a very rainy day yesterday. Carrying around a wet umbrella indoors can be both annoying and dangerous. I don't like my umbrella dripping all over the floor. So I was initially delighted when I saw that the Lumine in Kawagoe had their umbrella bag stand out. But when I saw the bin next to it full of used bags I felt that it was more of a waste.

Umbrella bag stands? I don't know the official name for this service in Japan. If you've been in Japan you probably know what I am talking about. In the photo above, the hole at the top of the box is for putting your umbrella in (long umbrellas not fold up ones). When you insert your umbrella it very cleverly covers it with a plastic bag, as you can see in the diagram. The purpose: so your umbrella won't drip all over the floor!

However, they are for one time use only. When people leave the store, they pull the plastic off the umbrella and put it in the bin. Which hopefully you can see in the photo is located behind the bag dispenser. What I often do is take one of the already used bags from the bin rather than taking a new one!

I have to admit, I do like the convenience, but I don't like the waste. Do you use this service when you are out shopping on a rainy day? Do you think the number of places offering this service has reduced? I think in Saitama it has. That was why I was so surprised to see one yesterday, because I can't remember the last time I saw one / used one before yesterday!