Paying for carrier bags.

For years I did a weekly shop and thought nothing of using their free carrier bags. When the use and disposal of these bags was highlighted several years ago I was horrified to realise I had used about 13 of them each shop. (Not that they were ever just thrown out, we used them as bin bags etc). That made me change the way I shopped and since then have always used my own bags, quite large heavy cotton ones from M & S. We never go shopping now without a couple of carriers in a pocket or handbag. It's a no-brainier really. There are lots of complicated rules about who can give out free bags now. I read somewhere that clothes shops use a different type of plastic and they will be free so anyone who buys an expensive item of clothing will get one. Don't expensive dresses etc come complete with a box? Wouldn't know, I usually get clothes from Sainsbury's now!

I'm a bit scared to admit at the moment that I work in retail! Everything has gone smoothly so far with the vast majority of people bringing their own bags. There has been a good comeraderie spirit, we're all in the same boat. Don't forget even shop assistants have to do shopping too. We're just following government orders. Soon we won't think twice about it.

I think I need to go to Marks and Sparks tomorrow and buy the bulkiest and most expensive overcoat they have in the shop. Just to find out what happens when I offer them my little old nylon shopping bag to put it in (I would get a refund on Thursday. I don't need a new coat.)

I have been feeling the need for an adventure.

They don't put it in for you, you have to do that yourself!

Look forward to hearing the outcome though...

Well I can tell you what would happen up here jingle, (Scotland). They would ask you if you wanted to purchase a bag & if you declined then you'd just have to carry it home without one.

Oh yes. That would be boring.

But then I could request they wrap my parcel for me. In the name of decent customer service.

Put on your most haughty voice & give it a try but I don't fancy your chances much

For goodness sake (I'd use a face palm emoticon if there was one) would you moaners in England ever give over! It isn't that difficult. We in Wales, Scotland, N.Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland and other environmentally aware countries cope fine, including the purchasing of heavy winter coats. Just bring large heavyweight bags when clothes shopping!

In my local dialect: get over yourselves!!

I wish the turtles, whales and other sea life would start whingeing a bit louder:

plasticisrubbish.com/2009/03/12/sea-turtle-to-eat-plastic-bag/

I'm going to buy a couple more of the fabric fold up bags and start putting them in strategic places. Already got one in my handbag, so maybe will put a spare in the front of my car and DH's car, and a coat pocket or three.

We've got loads of bags we could use, but remembering to take them into the shop will always be a problem for me, so if I don't have a folding bag with me, I'll just pay the 5p.

Is it just plastic bags the new law covers? I was just thinking about the plain brown paper bags (no handles) used for food shopping in the USA. Upmarket clothing shops will find an alternative bag, probably reverting to the lovely thick paper bags of the past.

Does anyone else remember people saying they wouldn't use/pay for supermarket carrier bags because it was free advertising? Changed days.

It's (mainly) just a bit of banter, Jud! Give us another couple of days and we'll be seasoned old bag women.

I have just heard the most ridiculous thing. Sainsbury's have found a loophole which means they do not have to give money received for the bags to charity if they are thicker bags.
How sick is that.
Hope there's a petition about it.

Did anyone else see the t.v. Programme that was on recently about the dangers of using some of your bags more than once. Basically what they were saying was that if you buy a chicken (which may or may not be wrapped in plastic) it can leak, usually does, and you then use that bag again for other items you are running the risk of getting salmonella or campalla bacter (really nasty bug). This also applied to other foods that could contaminate some of your other shopping. They did tests on bags that people use and put back in the boot of their cars or handbags until their next shop. It was real scary stuff they we're showing, food for thought, excuse the pun. Even if the bags were washed it still showed traces of contamination! Not sure what the answer is, any suggestions?

Sainsburys is suffering at the moment, so I can't see them doing anything that's going to lose them more customers. Well I hope not.

It's in tomorrow's papers, Wilma.

Or the Telegraph, at least.

Oh I do believe you - I have seen it on the front page too. I just meant they've got to make it clear that they won't take advantage of the loophole if they don't want to lose even more customers.

I think the answer to sillynanny's question is stop worrying about tiny risks. Seriously, how many people have come down with salmonella or campala bacter (never heard of it) infections because of germs in their shopping bags?

I cannot believe the fuss being made about this by so many.
I have a collection of long use bags. Several from Aldi they use a fabric like garden fleece and have a plastic base which tends to fall out. A bit too flimsy but I still use them. The others are Tesco and Asda polypropalene which seem the most robust. We will all get used to it PDQ. I don't use the very big bags so much as lifting becomes difficult.

For goodness sakes, what a fuss. We managed quite well in our younger days before the free carrier bag thing took off. I'm sure we can do it again. It's not exactly a civil liberties matter really - is it? The countryside and wildlife will appreciate it, and maybe even our major roads won't look quite so horrendously disgustingly littered.

Our town made a lot of fuss several years ago about going plastic bag free (before a Tesco opened and ruined it all!) and it really hasn't been a problem. We're lucky enough to have quite a few small independent shops. The butchers and fish monger all use white paper wrapping and biodegradable poly bags if necessary so no leaks. The green grocers and bread shops use paper bags and everything goes into the bags for life or hessian bags which we take everywhere. The dress shops all use paper carrier bags like in the old days. What's the problem?

Nelliemoser you have said exactly what I was thinking. They brought this rule in several years ago here in Malta and we soon got used to bringing our own bags.

Back in the day, my mother always took her own shopping basket with her and even had plastic carrying cases for eggs which were sold loose.

I really can't understand why there is such a song and dance about it

Pittcity Your link to the regulations is so useful I am repeating it as its gone way down the list of threads .

This extract is the critical bit.

You don’t charge for plastic bags that are:

for uncooked fish and fish products
for uncooked meat, poultry and their products
for unwrapped food for animal or human consumption - for example, chips, or food sold in containers not secure enough to prevent leakage during normal handling
For unwrapped loose seeds, flowers, bulbs, corns, rhizomes (roots, stems and shoots, such as ginger) or goods contaminated by soil (such as potatoes or plants)

www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities

I take a basket to the supermarket with me. Into it, without any wrappers, go raw vegetables and fruit. We are told to wash fruit and veg before we eat it anyway (not that I do always). The checkout people think it's 'cute'. I don't do cute but am happy for them to think that.

You do need those very small flimsy bags to put your fruit and veg in to weigh them. I doubt if they charge for them.

For years I have been using two bags that roll up very small and go back into my handbag when I unload my shopping.