5p levy on plastic bags

I live right on the border and often shop in Wales - I do indeed take my own bags.

I re-use paper bags by placing them after use in my kitchen waste bin. Some are so thin now that they rarely make it that far without splitting.

M&S have charged for bags for years now so I make sure that I take sufficient with me if buying food.

I always take my own bags when shopping. The last time I was in Australia one of the big stores was giving away cloth bags which are washable and fold up and fit inside my handbag

I take my own shopping bags as well, I am glad that the whole plastic bag thing is grinding to a halt. I have noticed that the countryside where I live is so much better now, hardly any litter and no thin plastic bags caught up in trees.

Didn't they bring this up years ago? And years before that? Is it actually going to happen now? I have often thought that high street shops should be paying us to use their bags. I can remember when they first started doing it, I used to turn the bags inside out. As a teenager I was used to beautiful card carrier bags that were often a work of art, especially the ones that were from boutiques.

I don't know why they ate dithering either I always carry a bag with me and use own bags at the supermarket, how hard is it to do that?

That should say are !

Yes. It's always a bit of a shock when I shop in Wales. Especially if I've forgotten my foldaway bag.

Where is the 5p going? I know Marks and Sparks give theirs to charity. Hope others do the same.

This is being discussed on local radio this morning and someone described the plastic bags that float around in the air as witches knickers That is a new one on me!

I always take my own shopping bags but what I find ridiculous is if I buy meat in M & S, they put it in a smaller free plastic bag! Defeats the purpose.

[Http:/bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26048425]

I agree it is accepted as routine in Wales now. It happened in Ireland too, with no fuss.
The government here have over complicated it apparently trying to exclude small shops from it (don't want to be seen to be penalising small business owners)
So they want the 5p charge to apply only to supermarkets and larger stores. What is a larger store - and who is going to decide?
As well as this exemption, Defra does not want the charge to apply to biodegradable bags. Paper bags and reusable "bags for life" will also avoid the levy.
Yes well we already pay for the bags for life don't we.
What a bunch of clowns.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26048425

[http:/bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26048425]

Thanks Jess I will get there one day

DD in Oz orders her groceries on line and Coles or Big W deliver and everything is in a separate plastic bag - shocking. I always have my own bags (but usually leave them in the car and have to belt out from the queue to retrieve them ). Most places in France have no bags at all, so you have to take your own - that's how it should be here and everywhere..

I have used my own bags throughout my adult life. I have also made myself a set of lightweight voile drawstring bags for loose fruit and veg.

I'm in Wales too and we have had the carrier-bag charge for about 3 years. It took a bit of getting used to but as others have said, now it has become second nature to take bags whenever we go shopping. I usually keep some in the car. The money collected from the 5p charge is given to charity (although I'm not sure if this is a legal requirement or just good publicity).

DD1&2 are in Australia and Coles and Woolworths always pack for you you in plastic bags. Target (similar to BHS) use the ones made of potato starch.

I think we are ahead of Australia with recycling, but can't understand the resistance in England to the introduction of the levy - it is supposed to be a deterrent and an encouragement to use your own, not another tax!

Just heard on the news, the 5p charge system is working so well in Northern Ireland it is possible the charge will be raised to 10p! Why, if it's already working well?

Hope they don't do that in Wales if it ain't broke don't fix it?

Exactly m74

Well that is not going to change in Australia at the moment with the Abbot government taking a kind of anti- environment stance. Cant remember where but was reading about it yesterday.

I always have my grocery shopping bags in the back of the car and I have a little M&S bags that folds up into a pocket which I keep in my handbag.

I can't see the problem with charging for bags. It may make people think about the environment.

So why is there so much fuss in the media about introducing it in England - and why so slow in the implementation. It started well in Modbury, Devon, I suppose now the politicians have taken charge it will take for ever.

Yes, I always despair at how bad the Australians are at recycling, at least where we visit. I suppose it is difficult where the population is widespread, not sure about the big cities. I think it is better than in rural areas. But we need a Worldwide campaign!!