Paying for carrier bags.

Nelliemoser no you don't, unless you are buying huge quantities. Half a dozen apples,carrots onions etc fit onto the checkout scale very easily. Then straight into your bag.

durhamjen It's the weight of the plastic that counts. It's the flimsy ones the government are trying to get rid of. Most shops have made their bags flimsier and flimsier in recent times in an attempt to look 'green'. (I can't see Sainsbo's suddenly going for thicker carrier bags tbh)

When I bought clothes from a shop in Australia they were put into a large biodegradable bag made from potato starch. You could then use it for food waste. It still cost 10c.

I do think it is strange, though, that although plastic bags are discouraged in Wales, our Council gives us plastic sacks for our recyclable waste. Presumably they recycle the bags. Must find out.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/11915704/Sainsburys-uses-legal-loophole-to-keep-part-of-new-5p-charity-charge-for-plastic-bags.html

It would seem from this article that Sainsburys have got rid of flimsy carriers and are only selling thicker,reuseable ones which can be replaced when they wear out - like the Tesco 'bag for life'.

Nothing wrong with that, although they're only charging 5p for them and it says they must charge more than 5p by law.

We keep a selection of hessian bags and strong polythene bags plus a wine carrier in the boot for supermarket shopping and I keep a couple of cotton or nyl8n bags in my handbag for other shopping.

Hands up whoever has a Modbury shopping bag!

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6605435.stm

What's happening about home delivery supermarket shopping? That's where a heck of a lot of bags get wasted with just one item in a bag.

I think you can choose a bagless delivery, it comes in crates and you have to unpack it quickly! I think the meat and fish come in plastic bags.
Most supermarkets have a recycling bin for plastic bags I think.

My driver asked me how many bags were in my bag (iyswim). I said, "Ooh! Six or seven I think". He said. "Ten then". I said "ok".

(I got 50p back)

I suppose they must be matching the amount, and giving it to charity. Or they're not really charging for them are they!

They are being re-cycled jings that's why we are reimbursed for returns - if you don't return them then the charge stands, so they are charging.

I think that's right!

Just has an ASDA delivery and was ready with my big IKEA blue bag. Only meat came in a plastic carrier bag and a garlic bulb was in one of the thin plastic bags you see in the fruit and vegetable section. Order was sorted into frozen, chilled and everything else, making it easy to take into the kitchen in stages. Easy peasy.

Driver said quite a few customers were ready for a no bag delivery, but his round was taking longer. He said ASDA charges 40p for a carrier bag delivery.

That was exactly my experience with Ocado, Carigransnet. I also trawled the house for bags including other retailers and returned 27 to the driver!

I admire people who are adept enough to make their own bags. I'm not sure that this 5p per bag will stop people using them if they haven't stopped already, what is another 40 or 50p on a big weekly shop, although I have been told that at least one supermarket has made it's plastic bags smaller and I don't begrudge the money if it's going to charity.
However I normally use my own bags as they don't cost a lot for the plain large strong bags from the supermarkets and they last for ages. I give Christmas presents in attractive reusable bags where appropriate and I also buy bags as souvenirs from places I've visited (this has become a bit of a standing joke with my family as everywhere I go I pick up a cotton or jute bag and a pencil!)

anyone got a pattern for crochet or knitted bags?

I have been clothes shopping today and even though I bought several expensive bras I was invited just to stick them in with my other shopping. I then went off and bought a rather nice cardigan and again was invited to stick it in with my other shopping. Finally I went to Boots where I bought a large gift set of face creams, I was ready I did have a cotton shopping bag large enough to take the box. By the time I met up with DH I was determined that I would no longer shop on the high street and future purchases will be ordered online.

I order a lot of stuff online to be collected in store and these things are usually already bagged up when they arrive at the shop. I wonder if that will still happen?

I have to say I'm finding it highly irritating when buying clothes, if I'm spending a large amount of money I do object to having to pay out.

Yes, I know it's the law and some countries have been doing it for ages etc. etc. before I get shot down

I too am going to buy much more online harrigran, it arrives or I collect from a nearby store, nicely bagged WilmaKnickersfit!

Why not have ago at making your own bags for fun. crochet, knit, patchwork, old jeans etc ....I have even seen a bag made out of plastic carrier bags somewhere.In the local £1 shop they sell good strong nylon bags all folded up in a little pouch with a prestud, all colours (they cost a £1 of course)

trinity Im sure if you google there will now be 1,000s patterns and ideas of ideas of how to make bags good luck..may have a go myself.

I'm amazed at the grumbles about paying for plastic bags. They're just bad for the environment on so many levels, surely we can all sort ourselves out and either pay the 5p if we want our clothes in a bag or take a nice, clean cloth bag when we go clothes shopping.
The damage plastic bags cause to animals and sea life is horrendous.

The supermarket strong ones are good.
If you want one just for clothes shopping and have a sewing machine buy some cheap firm fabric and you could easily run up three simple bags in a day.
Near us we have a shop that sells fabric remnants of just about every kind by weight. I bought a huge piece for about £4 and made a bag to carry my "backfriend" when I go out. I then used more of the fabric to run up a bag for the vacuum cleaner tools and still have some left.

I have a feeling that some small shops (and some not so small) are going to use this new law to cash in. Yesterday DH bought a sandwich from a well known bakery Gregg's and he was given a tiny flimsy bag (without asking if he wanted it) the girl behind the counter said she had to charge him 5p for the bag "it's the law you know" DH just paid for it. Now I'm pretty sure that those kinds of tiny bags are exempt (please correct me if I'm wrong) and if Gregg's are charging for them are they just pocketing the money? DH's sandwich was £1.50 (he is a creature of habit) so he knows he was charged the 5p.

Iam64 I totally agree about plastic bags being horrible things, for the environment and for wildlife. All I am asking is that clothes shops - such as M and S and JL - have the decency to offer some kind of paper wrapping for clothing and suchlike. At the very least it would show some respect for their customers. The stores are getting off too lightly in all this. They are the ones who were happy to introduce plastic bags.

Paying for bags is ridiculous. Doing that is making a mockery of the whole thing!