5p charge for plastic bags from October 2015 to cut usage
Discussion
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/packaging/le...
There is loads of legislation on packaging and packaging waste streams.
Chances are the manufacturer who places the stuff on the market is already paying a fee for the amount of packaging that makes it's way to landfill.
See Also waste electrical equipment, and batteries. RoHS /REACH regs are similar but more about limiting hazardous substances.
There is a whole industry supporting implementation of legislation...
E.g. http://www.complydirect.com/
Most is for the greater good, I can understand the requirement to have controls in place. I'm not convinced the money goes to directly rectify the issue in the same way Road tax doesn't!!
However, there is some new energy efficiency scheme where you must get a approved consultant to analyse your energy bills, every 2 years, and perform a site inspection, providing a report showing where you can improve.
In my factory the fees are more than the energy savings we can make... Not counting Capex for infrastructure required to make the savings.
That's the biggest scam going.
There is loads of legislation on packaging and packaging waste streams.
Chances are the manufacturer who places the stuff on the market is already paying a fee for the amount of packaging that makes it's way to landfill.
See Also waste electrical equipment, and batteries. RoHS /REACH regs are similar but more about limiting hazardous substances.
There is a whole industry supporting implementation of legislation...
E.g. http://www.complydirect.com/
Most is for the greater good, I can understand the requirement to have controls in place. I'm not convinced the money goes to directly rectify the issue in the same way Road tax doesn't!!
However, there is some new energy efficiency scheme where you must get a approved consultant to analyse your energy bills, every 2 years, and perform a site inspection, providing a report showing where you can improve.
In my factory the fees are more than the energy savings we can make... Not counting Capex for infrastructure required to make the savings.
That's the biggest scam going.
Bradgate said:
This measure is obviously sensible, and decades overdue. A few people will make a fuss about paying for bags for the first few weeks then we will all get used to the idea and quietly agree that it was the right thing to do. A bit like the smoking ban
The smoking ban that put hundreds of pubs out of business and thousands of people on the dole? That could have been avoided by having smoking rooms to give workers and the public choice?The government should f
k off micromanaging every aspect of our lives and deal with the big picture stuff, debt, deficit, defence etc. They're not doing that very well so god only knows why they're messing around with trivial nonsense like plastic bags. grumbledoak said:
It is just a revenue raiser, but after decades of greenwashing the population are going to swallow it hook, line, sinker, rod, angler, and rollup.
Now it will be less convenient to pop into the shops when on foot so I will drive (even more revenue) and I will have to pay for binbags - plastic bags that go straight into landfill.
So rather than the massive inconvenience of spending 5p, you're going to drive there to buy some different plastic bags?Now it will be less convenient to pop into the shops when on foot so I will drive (even more revenue) and I will have to pay for binbags - plastic bags that go straight into landfill.
There's a poll in that well-known barometer of public opinion, always with its finger on the nation's pulse, the Shropshire Star.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/02/05/poll...
A close call, all things considered.
In Scotland there was nothing in the legislation forcing shops to hand over any of the 4p remaining once the 1p in VAT had been demanded.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/524889/Taxman-s-t...
The article speaks of an £11m reduction in clean-up costs, did anyone north of the border notice the mass redundancies? Paper accounting, lovely.
In future HM Treasury will be receiving their slice of the new tax. From the estimated £95m to £100m the charge will raise, £70m will go to charitable causes (the government has given a 'promise' that this will happen, as opposed to shops keeping it, we shall see) while the remaining £25m will be split between administration costs at £5m and that government grab in terms of a £20m VAT charge on the sale of the bags.
He would say that but then again he's correct.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/02/05/poll...
A close call, all things considered.
In Scotland there was nothing in the legislation forcing shops to hand over any of the 4p remaining once the 1p in VAT had been demanded.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/524889/Taxman-s-t...
The article speaks of an £11m reduction in clean-up costs, did anyone north of the border notice the mass redundancies? Paper accounting, lovely.
In future HM Treasury will be receiving their slice of the new tax. From the estimated £95m to £100m the charge will raise, £70m will go to charitable causes (the government has given a 'promise' that this will happen, as opposed to shops keeping it, we shall see) while the remaining £25m will be split between administration costs at £5m and that government grab in terms of a £20m VAT charge on the sale of the bags.
The British Retail Consortium said:
Today’s plastic bags use 70% less plastic than those produced 20 years ago and contain more recycled content than ever before. A cotton shopping bag has to be used at least 130 times to be environmentally friendlier than a modern day plastic bag. The government is wrong to throw its attention on this issue and would perhaps be better served by focusing on other ways to care for the environment ... the tax will cause people to use more bin liners at home which are far more damaging to the environment.
The law of unintended consequences strikes again.Michael Flynn of the Packaging and Film Association said:
This is a symbolic political decision, not an environmental or scientific one.
He would say that but then again he's correct.
technodup said:
he smoking ban that put hundreds of pubs out of business and thousands of people on the dole? That could have been avoided by having smoking rooms to give workers and the public choice?
The government should fk off micromanaging every aspect of our lives and deal with the big picture stuff, debt, deficit, defence etc. They're not doing that very well so god only knows why they're messing around with trivial nonsense like plastic bags.
Yes because all pubs have a special spare room that they could of assigned as room for the feeble minded.The government should f
k off micromanaging every aspect of our lives and deal with the big picture stuff, debt, deficit, defence etc. They're not doing that very well so god only knows why they're messing around with trivial nonsense like plastic bags. Plastic bags and smoking are not trivial matters for many people.
Vipers said:
plunker said:
My wheelie-bin stinks already because of this new tax and has done for many years.
How come?
For all you whinging buggers, this is how it's done.
1. At the shop, put boxes on shopping trolly.
2. Do shop putting shopping in boxs.
3. Return to car, put boxes in boot.
4. Return trolly to trolly park.
5. Drive home, take boxes in house.
6. Empty boxes, return empty boxes to car.
Sorted.
For all those whingers who go on about smoking and pubs.
Consider, do we still use freon?. No because we know it's affects the ozone layer.
Why did we stop smoking in public places, for health reasons, and anyone who can't grasp that, take your head out of the sand.
It's a thing called progression and evolution, as my mate always to say "We used to have kids in coal mines", no doubt someone wants to bring that back again.
Anyway guys, just a light hearted stab for Saturday morning. If you are going out, don't forget to take a bag with you, drivers take some boxs.
1. At the shop, put boxes on shopping trolly.
2. Do shop putting shopping in boxs.
3. Return to car, put boxes in boot.
4. Return trolly to trolly park.
5. Drive home, take boxes in house.
6. Empty boxes, return empty boxes to car.
Sorted.
For all those whingers who go on about smoking and pubs.
Consider, do we still use freon?. No because we know it's affects the ozone layer.
Why did we stop smoking in public places, for health reasons, and anyone who can't grasp that, take your head out of the sand.
It's a thing called progression and evolution, as my mate always to say "We used to have kids in coal mines", no doubt someone wants to bring that back again.
Anyway guys, just a light hearted stab for Saturday morning. If you are going out, don't forget to take a bag with you, drivers take some boxs.
Vipers said:
Why did we stop smoking in public places, for health reasons, and anyone who can't grasp that, take your head out of the sand.
Wait until they're taxing McDonald's or banning Coke and see if you're as happy. The government can't even balance their own books, why should I be taking their advice or succumbing to their directives?And as for fannying about with those boxes... not a chance. Same as I'll not fanny about separating rubbish for the benefit of the council.
I happily pay for bags in Lidl because it was always part of their no frills business model and the 15p was saved in the shopping anyway. My choice. Fortunately between one of my locals who don't charge and buying less stuff and carrying it I rarely pay the no choice tax.
turbobloke said:
Vipers said:
jmorgan said:
We are all starving to death in Wales due to this tax, will no one think of the pies........
Bugger the pies, if they increase tax on condoms, think of the poor sheep.
"Condoms smomdoms. They should tax velcro gloves and green wellies."
Randy Winkman said:
technodup said:
Same as I'll not fanny about separating rubbish for the benefit of the council.
Thanks for helping to make the world a crapier place. 
£1500 a year to get a bin emptied every fortnight and to keep the streetlights on. The roads are a disgrace, I don't use schools, social work, housing services, libraries or anything else I can think of. Not sure that's value for money.
Funny how officialdom is quite happy to tax us in order to change our behaviours but never quite so happy to incentivise us. All stick and no carrot as per.
Randy Winkman said:
technodup said:
Same as I'll not fanny about separating rubbish for the benefit of the council.
Thanks for helping to make the world a crapier place. http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Letter-Recycling-po...
Edited by turbobloke on Saturday 8th August 19:35
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