Charge for Plastic Bags

Suvv

Suvv

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Not sure if this belongs here or in the Bargains thread.
It looks as though there will be a 5p charge for plastic bags next year so make sure that you stock up while they are free.
I am renting a small lock-up garage to store all mine.
 
This has been the case in N Ireland and Wales for a while, so maybe someone there can tell me how they charge for them at self service kiosk things?
 
same way they charge for anything else - barcode and scan it , of course you could just nick them, but staff might notice

( i just carry a bunch of resuasable bags in the car)
 
neil_g said:
not exactly breaking the bank, we must use 6 tops on a big shop.

and if its better for the environment..
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Does not compute - it would only be better for the environment if people didnt buy them, if you just pay 30p and send the same ammount of crap to landfil the environmental consequences are exactly the same.
 
big soft moose said:
Does not compute - it would only be better for the environment if people didnt buy them, if you just pay 30p and send the same ammount of crap to landfil the environmental consequences are exactly the same.
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according to the beeb there has been an 80% drop on carrier bags since some stores bought in a charge already.

edit - 75% source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24088523
 
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The supermarkets that we use in France do not supply the small plastic bags at all. You just take your own or you can buy larger re-useable ones .
 
im in wales. when it first came about i thought it wouldnt work, would be a right faff and wouldnt make the blindest bit of difference to the environment. BUT, its worked really really well, after a few months of forgetting to tak emy own bags to the shops I got used to it, and very rarely buy a bag now, only if ive bought a bit more than planned and need an extra one. Everyone seems to have gotten used to it without a big uproar and the consumption has most definately dropped alot.
Its quite funny when i venture over the bridge to england and get offered a carrier for free, i usually forget that i dont have to pay for them.

As for the self service tills, theres always one or more staff manning them because of the regular breakdowns in communication between computer and customer so they just hold onto the bags behind their little counter thing they have, then you ask for bags if you want them, i never do because i will only use the self service tills if i have 5 or less items that i wouldnt need a bag for.
 
Kwik Save used to charge for them years ago ... certainly not a quick saving.
 
Suvv said:
Not sure if this belongs here or in the Bargains thread.
It looks as though there will be a 5p charge for plastic bags next year so make sure that you stock up while they are free.
I am renting a small lock-up garage to store all mine.
Click to expand...

According to Cameron's backside kisser (Clegg) the charge starts in England after the next election in 2015 not next year.

Madness but the whole waste issue including the over packaging scene needs addressing. Bags are a tip of a much bigger iceberg

S
 
I wonder how it will work with tesco home delivery? Instead of dropping my bags at the front door will he tip out baskets of food on the doorstep?
 
The irony is that the normal carrier bag re-used a couple of times is actually more environmentally friendly than the bags for life as they have to be re-used so many more times over and don't always last long enough.

Most people re-use normal carrier bags once or twice then use them as a bin liner.
 
Hugh Jarse said:
According to Cameron's backside kisser (Clegg) the charge starts in England after the next election in 2015 not next year.

Madness but the whole waste issue including the over packaging scene needs addressing. Bags are a tip of a much bigger iceberg

S
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Surcharge starts in Scotland in October 2014.
The over-packaging of produce is of serious proportions.
I always take my own (substantial) shopping bags with me. Easy enough to do so.
 
Hugh Jarse said:
According to Cameron's backside kisser (Clegg) the charge starts in England after the next election in 2015 not next year.

Madness but the whole waste issue including the over packaging scene needs addressing. Bags are a tip of a much bigger iceberg

S
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Thanks for the correction - time for me to build the stockpile even higher :D
 
srichards said:
The irony is that the normal carrier bag re-used a couple of times is actually more environmentally friendly than the bags for life as they have to be re-used so many more times over and don't always last long enough.

Most people re-use normal carrier bags once or twice then use them as a bin liner.
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Hi

Not challenging what you are saying but as an environmental consultant, and having covered commissions for the major supermarkets (mainly in transport and construction impact assessment) I have never come across studies in respect of the cost benefit and sustainability of the "bag for life" type product. Grateful if you could point me at your sources for your statements.

Regards

Steve
 
Julie1979 said:
I wonder how it will work with tesco home delivery? Instead of dropping my bags at the front door will he tip out baskets of food on the doorstep?
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:D
We get a weekly grocery delivery from Riverford. It comes in various sized, fold-able cardboard boxes. Once emptied I fold them up, keep them in the garage and put them out for collection the next week.
 
I've got a wife for all that shopping malarkey so it don't effect me.:cool:
 
you'll have to increase her housekeeping money to cover the cost though ;)
 
big soft moose said:
you'll have to increase her housekeeping money to cover the cost though ;)
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Nae chance. Just bought her a new car and that's coming out of her housekeeping too:D
 
so avoid it by not using plastic bags , simple
 
not really - you can get reusable bags that fold up and go in your pocket/car glovebox
 
I collected the free ones while living in London - then took them to Wales for my parents to use them when shopping..
 
M&S already charge 5p in Englandshire if you buy stuff out of the food hall and opt for a big bag. (small ones are free)

However, go buy Jeans etc... and the bag is free.:bonk::bonk:
 
Hugh Jarse said:
Hi

Not challenging what you are saying but as an environmental consultant, and having covered commissions for the major supermarkets (mainly in transport and construction impact assessment) I have never come across studies in respect of the cost benefit and sustainability of the "bag for life" type product. Grateful if you could point me at your sources for your statements.

Regards

Steve
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Was on the goggle box. Forget what programme. Horizon, dispatches type or that Big Bang science prog on bbc1. It definitely said bags for life had to be used a significant number of times and a normal carrier only needed a couple of uses. Possibly a programme about rubbish/recycling.

Found bbc article. Think same info was on TV prog not long after:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17027990
 
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[smuggit]I keep a strong plastic bag in a pocket of all the jackets/fleeces I wear so am rarely caught short (as it were) if I'm picking up a few odds and sods. We have several decent bags in both car boots too so we're OK for bags whenever we do a "big shop". On the rare occasions when I do need a bag, I spring for a decent one and it goes into stock for reuse.[/smuggit]

It almost annoys me when we buy stuff in small shops on holiday; anything that might possibly be a gift gets wrapped in plastic tissue paper then shoved into a carrier. Requests for "Choris (or ochi) sakoula" seem to have no effect.
 
srichards said:
Was on the goggle box. Forget what programme. Horizon, dispatches type or that Big Bang science prog on bbc1. It definitely said bags for life had to be used a significant number of times and a normal carrier only needed a couple of uses. Possibly a programme about rubbish/recycling.

Found bbc article. Think same info was on TV prog not long after:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17027990
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Its the cotton bags that need using 100+ times. Plastic bags for life are ok after 4.
 
Hugh Jarse said:
Madness but the whole waste issue including the over packaging scene needs addressing. Bags are a tip of a much bigger iceberg
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I agree with you that over packaging is a serious issue.

I also agree with discouraging the use of disposable plastic bags though. The longlife bags I use get used many times (in the hundreds, each) for shopping, and even when the handles go I find uses for them as the plastic is pretty sturdy, much more so than bin liners if I want to bag stuff like rubble or general building / DIY waste up to take to the tip - they even survive several uses for that.
 
big soft moose said:
Does not compute - it would only be better for the environment if people didnt buy them
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Exactly. People are just going to pay 5p for them then throw them away as usual.

However, if they were £5 each, it would be a different matter!

The only real answer is for shops to stop supplying bags and insist that you bring your own.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Exactly. People are just going to pay 5p for them then throw them away as usual.

However, if they were £5 each, it would be a different matter!

The only real answer is for shops to stop supplying bags and insist that you bring your own.

Steve.
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Then the Internet would be king even more. Not everyone remembers or thinks about taking enough bags with them. Spend more and leave things behind? Shops that treat customers like that will soon go out of business. Convenience will always win out. Look at out of town shopping centres with free parking. Same with offering plastic bags.

If couriers weren't such clumsy prats packaging could be drastically reduced. I'm sure using tons of cardboard, polystyrene and bubble wrap is far more deleterious to the environment than an extra few plastic bags . . .
 
card board is recyclable - and ploystirene and buble wrap can both be made out of recycled ptfe (bags could be recyclable but the supermarkets won't put the money into making them so unless either govt or customer makes them)
 
I use the (usually 10p) bag for life bags and have got a good 6 months to a year out of most of them, and some of the supermarkets will replace them free of charge when they do eventually go, im guessing they must cover the charge for those themselves.
Providing you are careful when packing your shopping into bags then theres no reason why they wouldnt last.

As for it being a tax, i dont see it that way because the charge goes to charity not the government, yes there will be a few unscrupulous places keeping the money for themselves but the large majority will be donating it. Its not all "green" charities either. I think its morrisons who are donating it to a childrens charity, and as they advertise which charity they donate it too im sure said charity would kick up a stink if they werent recieving it.
 
It's more to do with habit
I used to use supermarket plastic bags but the had become far to flimsy to be trusted these days, bought some decent hessian ones and my shopping comes home in one piece:thumbs:
 
Does anyone else remember the days when supermarkets used to leave all their empty packing boxes at the ends of the tils for customers to reuse ?

propper green philosphy in action - not to mention that once they'd been taken home they were often repurposed for storage, or for packing, or for kids to play with... then some tit cut himself on a staple and sued and the 'elf and safety brigade decided that it wasnt a safe way to dispose of cardboard boxes and they all had to be recycled for pulp instead :thumbsdown:
 
big soft moose said:
Does anyone else remember the days when supermarkets used to leave all their empty packing boxes at the ends of the tils for customers to reuse ?

propper green philosphy in action - not to mention that once they'd been taken home they were often repurposed for storage, or for packing, or for kids to play with... then some tit cut himself on a staple and sued and the 'elf and safety brigade decided that it wasnt a safe way to dispose of cardboard boxes and they all had to be recycled for pulp instead :thumbsdown:
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as far as i know (limited conversation with our warehouse manager) all businesses now have to complete an annual waste report to the local council (?) and show exactly what goes off for recycling and meet a target based on figures you give. nothing to do with anyone being sued.
 
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