5p charge for plastic bags from October 2015 to cut usage
Discussion
I think the clue is the stupid number of bags binned vs a lot less kept as re usable as we have to pay for them, all best a pittance.
Certainly the landscape is a lot better for in here in Wales where it has been the norm for a good few years and works. Despite the few that want to "stick it to the man" and bemoan the issue.
Interestingly there are regs in Wales on sizes etc. before they can be charged for. So, your chips from McD will be an a small bag for free, but put the whole meal in the bag and you will be charged...... ohhhh that will get the chest thumpers going.
Certainly the landscape is a lot better for in here in Wales where it has been the norm for a good few years and works. Despite the few that want to "stick it to the man" and bemoan the issue.
Interestingly there are regs in Wales on sizes etc. before they can be charged for. So, your chips from McD will be an a small bag for free, but put the whole meal in the bag and you will be charged...... ohhhh that will get the chest thumpers going.
Axionknight said:
This came in to force here in Scotland a while back - it's no bad thing, IMO, apart from the odd time I forget to take bags along with me when shopping.
Keep 4/5 carrier bags bundled up in the boot of your car, sorted.
I can't see why anybody would have an issue with this, personally.
This.....Keep 4/5 carrier bags bundled up in the boot of your car, sorted.
I can't see why anybody would have an issue with this, personally.
I live in N Wales and have had this for the the last few years.
It's reduced bag usage by 90%.
I too, leave a few bags for life in the boot of the car and get them replaced when they wear out or become torn.
It's second nature once u get into the swing of things.
There are some oddities/head scratchers but it's mainly ok up here.
Weird stuff is things like McDonalds needing to charge for a bag for the food even although it's paper.
Annoying stuff was that I used to reuse old shopping bags to hold pet waste, thankfully it is a small beast so nappy sacks do the job instead
Weird stuff is things like McDonalds needing to charge for a bag for the food even although it's paper.
Annoying stuff was that I used to reuse old shopping bags to hold pet waste, thankfully it is a small beast so nappy sacks do the job instead
How will it work with self service checkouts at the supermarkets?
Surely the answer is to make them all biodegradable/recyclable and move onto more important things.
The bigger problem is huge weekly shop trolley full of packaging, not the few carrier bags to take it home in, which are most likely to be used again anyway. If they are used for bin bags or taking your lunch to work, you'll just buy bin liners or sandwich bags anyway.
Also, with home delivery they seem to put about three items per carrier bags and then into a crate.
Surely the answer is to make them all biodegradable/recyclable and move onto more important things.
The bigger problem is huge weekly shop trolley full of packaging, not the few carrier bags to take it home in, which are most likely to be used again anyway. If they are used for bin bags or taking your lunch to work, you'll just buy bin liners or sandwich bags anyway.
Also, with home delivery they seem to put about three items per carrier bags and then into a crate.
mgtony said:
How will it work with self service checkouts at the supermarkets?
Surely the answer is to make them all biodegradable/recyclable and move onto more important things.
The bigger problem is huge weekly shop trolley full of packaging, not the few carrier bags to take it home in, which are most likely to be used again anyway. If they are used for bin bags or taking your lunch to work, you'll just buy bin liners or sandwich bags anyway.
Also, with home delivery they seem to put about three items per carrier bags and then into a crate.
You have to ask for them at self service which can be annoying. Surely the answer is to make them all biodegradable/recyclable and move onto more important things.
The bigger problem is huge weekly shop trolley full of packaging, not the few carrier bags to take it home in, which are most likely to be used again anyway. If they are used for bin bags or taking your lunch to work, you'll just buy bin liners or sandwich bags anyway.
Also, with home delivery they seem to put about three items per carrier bags and then into a crate.
Your right about packaging of foods that needs to be tackled next everything is in a pack now aldi sell 3 bananas in a very small packet what's the point!
roachcoach said:
Weird stuff is things like McDonalds needing to charge for a bag for the food even although it's paper.
That is an unexpected benefit - wait until you see a large lady carrying 4-5 meals without a bag because she was too tight to pay 5p. Then laugh as she drops her chips and throws everything else on the ground in a fit of rage.5p is nothing in the grand scheme of things, if I forget a bag, I always pay it and I'll be honest, I haven't had to phone Zurich to move any money around yet. It does make you think more about it though - which I guess is the whole point.
I'm not sure I agree with it when shopping (not for food) though - carrying clothes you have just bought in a supermarket bag makes you look like a complete mental - I always pay for a bag then.
Welshbeef said:
Options
1. the plastic bag for life at 10/20p
2. Supermarkets may start using paper bags instead which will help the UK forestry commission is they will plant more good all round
3. Use the nice Waitrose Hessian bags
4. Order food shopping online it's delivered to your door no bags needed as is a full on time saver.
5. It's been the case for Years in Wales
Our home shopping delivery still packs in plastic bags, in fact they use different coloured ones to highlight replacement items! Probably doubles the amount of bags required.1. the plastic bag for life at 10/20p
2. Supermarkets may start using paper bags instead which will help the UK forestry commission is they will plant more good all round
3. Use the nice Waitrose Hessian bags
4. Order food shopping online it's delivered to your door no bags needed as is a full on time saver.
5. It's been the case for Years in Wales
Just to add, if we pay 5p per bag, does that mean they now have a value for recycling them?
Edited by With these feet on Thursday 6th August 08:29
I don't care about the 5p charge, I've used Bags For Life and other reusables for years anyway so am used to coming prepared. Except in petrol stations, I always forget to take a bag in there and end up having to pay BP an extra 5p if I buy a lot of stuff. There is the added bonus that it might cut some litter as well.
But really there are bigger fish that need frying. The packaging on the products and shelves are far bigger eco crimes than a few carrier bags, it seems a bit daft to go on about carrier bags but then you've got all these plastic yoghurt pots and drinks cartons and sweet wrappers. And then there's all the stuff that doesn't even make it to homes but just gets the product to the shelves. often the yoghurt and cream pots are put on the shelves in plastic trays, further adding to the amount of plastic used to get a 50p yoghurt to the consumer. Check out the little yakult stype drinks, and how much plastic and card goes into getting that tiny mouthful to the consumer. Way more than is in a carrier bag. About time that wastage was properly tackled really.
But really there are bigger fish that need frying. The packaging on the products and shelves are far bigger eco crimes than a few carrier bags, it seems a bit daft to go on about carrier bags but then you've got all these plastic yoghurt pots and drinks cartons and sweet wrappers. And then there's all the stuff that doesn't even make it to homes but just gets the product to the shelves. often the yoghurt and cream pots are put on the shelves in plastic trays, further adding to the amount of plastic used to get a 50p yoghurt to the consumer. Check out the little yakult stype drinks, and how much plastic and card goes into getting that tiny mouthful to the consumer. Way more than is in a carrier bag. About time that wastage was properly tackled really.
kev1974 said:
I don't care about the 5p charge, I've used Bags For Life and other reusables for years anyway so am used to coming prepared. Except in petrol stations, I always forget to take a bag in there and end up having to pay BP an extra 5p if I buy a lot of stuff. There is the added bonus that it might cut some litter as well.
But really there are bigger fish that need frying. The packaging on the products and shelves are far bigger eco crimes than a few carrier bags, it seems a bit daft to go on about carrier bags but then you've got all these plastic yoghurt pots and drinks cartons and sweet wrappers. And then there's all the stuff that doesn't even make it to homes but just gets the product to the shelves. often the yoghurt and cream pots are put on the shelves in plastic trays, further adding to the amount of plastic used to get a 50p yoghurt to the consumer. Check out the little yakult stype drinks, and how much plastic and card goes into getting that tiny mouthful to the consumer. Way more than is in a carrier bag. About time that wastage was properly tackled really.
But the majority of plastics are recyclable, unless of course the purchaser throws it in general waste.But really there are bigger fish that need frying. The packaging on the products and shelves are far bigger eco crimes than a few carrier bags, it seems a bit daft to go on about carrier bags but then you've got all these plastic yoghurt pots and drinks cartons and sweet wrappers. And then there's all the stuff that doesn't even make it to homes but just gets the product to the shelves. often the yoghurt and cream pots are put on the shelves in plastic trays, further adding to the amount of plastic used to get a 50p yoghurt to the consumer. Check out the little yakult stype drinks, and how much plastic and card goes into getting that tiny mouthful to the consumer. Way more than is in a carrier bag. About time that wastage was properly tackled really.
I would imagine many stores have policies in place to recycle what they can.
Been the law in Scotland for a while now.
It's annoying on one hand because the bags when finished with taking food home are reused for bin bags then put in the black bin. Paper, textiles and plastics go in the blue recycling bin.
Good because it does cut down on waste.
I bought 4 of those tough fabric bags and keep them in the car. 1 is a Poppy Appeal bag and the 3 others are land rover themed so suitably PH i believe.
A mate simply bought 1000 carrier bags off ebay for a silly cheap price. Came from China and are all blue but he doesn't care.
It's annoying on one hand because the bags when finished with taking food home are reused for bin bags then put in the black bin. Paper, textiles and plastics go in the blue recycling bin.
Good because it does cut down on waste.
I bought 4 of those tough fabric bags and keep them in the car. 1 is a Poppy Appeal bag and the 3 others are land rover themed so suitably PH i believe.
A mate simply bought 1000 carrier bags off ebay for a silly cheap price. Came from China and are all blue but he doesn't care.
OpulentBob said:
menguin said:
Or should we just do nothing, because China are building so many coal power stations each week our efforts pale into insignificance?
I know you're trying to make a point through sarcasm, but this IS a valid thing. For every bag of recycling I fill, there are half a billion people in China and India chucking their rubbish behind the house, burning tyres, and drinking "keep trade unfair" coffee. 
menguin said:
I agree entirely. It is annoying paying the best part of £500 to tax a car based on its emissions when you look at what happens in China & India. I still believe that doing something is better than doing nothing, though. There just has to be a line drawn somewhere - of course it would be more beneficial to the environment to ban all products from China but that might cause some other issues
Like putting in all the sink plugs on the titanic huh (though things like renewables are more akin to buying gold plugs for the sinks)?The "must do something" only placates your own conscience and does nothing to address any real problems - and frequently the "doing something" merely causes more problems than it solves (the law of unintended consequences always applies).
The solution - determine what the actual problem is and develop a fully costed solution - not merely "do something" - and take the precautionary principle and shove it where the sun don't shine.
k polar bears" on it. Just for irony value.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff