5p on plastic bags

Sick to death of people whining about forgetting bags.....we remember to take our purses, phones, car keys etc....just add it to the list of essentials. Even in my 'posh' handbag I keep one of those 'Turtle' string bags just in case. Its not rocket science.

We have just spent a week in a cottage in Wales and arranged a Tesco delivery for the day we arrived.It was delivered in lots of plastic bags for which there was no charge so is this double standards when they want the custom? Or is there normally no charge on a large shop?

Yes! Only 5p whatever the size!

Ana Are you saying my DS's fiancée will have to pay for a bag for her wedding dress? OOOH Will it only be 5p?

Those can-linkers are lethal to wildlife - they get stuck in them. I cut through the loops before putting them in the landfill bin.

Teasco give you a choice when ordering online of either plastic bags or plastic crates - they carry the crates to wherever you want and unload them there, so you don't have to lug them to cupboard or freezer.

Whenever I go to reuse a plastic carrier bag these days it usually disintegrates on me, so I don't think it's all that long before they start to break down. I do see the point about the damage caused by them though [those plastic things that hold cans together are a bit bug bear of mine; can't imagine the damage they can cause to wildlife and they don't break down]. I often park at Tescos when I go to the gym and then feel obliged to nip in and buy something, often meaning to buy just a couple of times but then get tempted to buy more. Also, buying something from, say HMV means that I have a cd in a plastic bag with a receipt so don't feel as if I'm walking out with something not paid for. I think, what I'm trying to say [I'm thinking this through as I'm typing] is the provision of plastic bags means people are more likely to impulse buy. Also, of course, people are using home delivery services more and more and the supermarkets would use plastic bags for that [I assume]. A supermarket I used years ago always had lots of cardboard boxes at the checkout that we used to put our shopping in, but I'd assume they get recycled now [and I suppose it looked quite messy, but me, being the clutter junkie that I am used to use them for storing things at home ].

In Wales you have to pay for plastic bags in all shops, Moved. I expect England will be the same.

Apparently since this was introduced in Wales the use of plastic bags has been reduced by 75%. What other suggestions does anyone have to get people to use less of them?

I can fold my bags very small and always have at least two in my handbag but when I bring them out in shops and say I will use my own bags there is always a look of surprise.

We keep a bag full of bags in the boot of both cars so whenever we go to the supermarket we have them ready to use. I also notice how many people use the shop bags and it seems to be the majority.

I assume we will still get bags when we go to other shops, clothes, household etc so that will supply enough to cope with the supermarket. They never seem to wear out.

We don't use bags in our bin, just wash it out afterwards but then we don't have anything messy to put in the bin as all the veg peelings etc go into the composter.

Agreed, *tiggypiro". Should we also give up carrying an umbrella and expect the met office to issue them free when needed? Free swimsuits for the hotel pool? Free popcorn at the cinema?

Can anyone explain why it is so hard to take your own bags when shopping ? After all we all pay for them one way or another and then pay even more to put them in landfill.
My favourite bag is one I made from the jeans that were cut off me in hospital when I fell off my bike and broke my leg. Reminds me to keep my eyes on the road !!

I believe one of the reasons is the damage these bags do when blown out to sea, and if you care about wildlife then it makes sense. Allegedly there is an island of plastic refuse in the Pacific larger than Wales, I have seen horrible pictures of birds, turtles etc. all tangled up with plastic bags if this policy goes some way towards eliminating that then I'm all for it. I have got into the habit of carrying my bags with me for quite a while and it probably sounds sanctimonious but sometimes whilst at the counter in Sainsburys I can't help noticing just how many flimsy orange bags some people use when doing what is probably a weekly shop. A bag for life is only 10p and that's exactly what it is because it will always be replaced by the store free of charge.

A friend of mine works at M and S and has to constantly deal with stupid little petty complaints about the charge for their 5p bags, this policy of charging has been in place there for ages and Marks gave away loads of bags for life before they implemented it.

Ocado take their bags back for recycling. They accept other people's bags too.

The trouble with fortnightly bin emptying is that rubbish stinks by the time it is collected unless it is tightly bagged.

I remember the time when everyone used their own bag, and anyone who went shopping without one was considered as feckless as a meringue who enjoyed walks in the rain.

When did it become a right to have someone else provide it? Why should the supermarket provide carrier bags for the unprepared? Small plastic bags for dairy produce, fair enough, but if you are buying more than you can carry in your arms, surely you have enough prior warning to pick up a bag before you shop?

A folding bag in a pocket or handbag takes up almost no room, and a more substantial one can live in the car boot. I have no car and have to carry home shopping in a bag or backpack, or wheel it in a shopping trolley. If I relied on flimsy plastic bags with knife-edge handles my hands would be cut to pieces, so I keep a light bag with sensible handles in my handbag - it is a no-brainer.

Charleygirl is it possible you remember at Marks because they charge and the others don't?

All our rubbish is recycled and bin liners unnecessary.

Reading about this janeainsworth I can't see that the charitable donations are voluntary at all. I'm in favour of a charge but totally agree with you re the excess packaging. I'm in a fortunate position of having local independent shops of good quality so all my fresh produce is merely bagged - paper and brown of course

How hard is it to put a lightweight foldable bag on one of the pockets of a handbag?! Animals, sea life and the environment are harmed by plastic bags.

Anyone who can't see what a good idea this is is either completely selfish, or thick.

Ceesnan It's a tax because anyone who needs a plastic bag at the supermarket has no choice about whether to pay it.
Charitable donations are voluntary.

No bags in France, except small ones on a roll for fruit and veg, which I use for my little rubbish bin in my kitchen. They last me for one or two days then I put them in the big public bin. I have several 'bags for life' which I put back in the car once I have unpacked them at home, so I never find myself at a supermarket without some.

Totally agree with you janeainsworth

I rarely remember to take bags with me when going to Waitrose or Sainsburys but I never forget when visiting M&S for food. I make use of plastic bags and if I do not use them for other food shopping, I will use them to line my kitchen bin. That will be more expense, having to buy bin liners when the bag tax kicks in.

Not sure how you can call it a form of taxation when the money raised will go to environment related charities?

I would agree with bags just not being provided. I have taken my own bags for all shopping throughout my adult life, it just makes sense. I have even made my own drawstring bags for loose fruit and veg, out of voile curtain fabric. [halo emoticon]

Doubt that there will be much money for environmental charities once the cost of collecting it is taken into consideration.