5p on plastic bags

Janea - spot on!

Yes it's the feebleness of it that annoys me. A lead policy at Lib Dem conference? Would be interesting to look in car park at all party conferences to see who really cares about the environment. Jess do you know how Wales made sure the 5ps went in the right direction and not to some off shore tax haven?

No janeainsworth on absolutely the right side.

I can't see that it will make a huge amount of difference to the amount of plastic bags used, anyway. It's just another form of taxation.
Most people re-use the plastic bags for some other purpose.
Why doesn't the government and/or supermarkets do something about the ridiculous amount of packaging round food instead?
Why not make it illegal to sell packets of four apples encased in a plastic tray?
Why not pass a law saying that ham has to be cut by a person standing behind a counter, and then wrapped in paper, rather than putting 3 slices on a plastic tray and covering it in more plastic?
Ditto meat and cheese.
Why not ban ready meals too, it would save on packaging and force everyone to cook from scratch, much healthier?
#gotoutofbedthewrongside

Job done in Ireland and Wales some years back. People think ahead and take bags shopping. Surprised that the coalition are summoning up the cojones to take what will probably be an unpopular decision with many. Feeble attempt to get a bit of greenwash maybe?

That reply was to OP by the way

So what is the problem with this? The money will go to charity, NOT into Government coffers, and hopefully fewer bags will end up in landfill sites. Isn't this good news all round?

Why is it that the uk has to mess around, if it's not the people who get hit by un-insured drivers but still end up out of pocket its daft things like the 5p bag charge?

Here in france you dont get plastic bags (except for butchers stuff)
it was put an end to a few years ago,
granted at first we did go and empty the trolly as we paid and then put it all back in the trolly because we'd forgot to bring bags,
But its like the seat belt in the car we now just put it on automatic, "never forget" and this bring your own bag thing is the same,
After a few times of forgetting it becomes the norm to take your own bags.

Why not just stop bags and let it be an end to the matter instead of pussy footing about,