5p Plastic Bag Charge

5p Plastic Bag Charge

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Discussion

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

203 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Rockatansky said:
In greater detail: ( http://carrierbagchargescotland.org.uk/guidance/wh...)



The Regulations specify a number of exemptions where there is no requirement to charge for carrier bags.

Bags of any size used solely to contain exempted items listed in the Regulations:

Unpackaged food for human or animal consumption; such as loose fruit and vegetables, bakery items, pick and mix sweets and dry animal food.
Unpackaged loose seeds, bulbs, corms or rhizomes, such as grass seeds, daffodil bulbs or root ginger.
Any unpackaged axe, knife, knife blade or razor blades; such as a kitchen knife which is mounted on cardboard but not then enclosed in wrapping.
Unpackaged goods contaminated by soil; such as soil, compost, potted plants, fishing bait and wormery worms.
Certain medicinal products; such as fullfilling prescription requests and pharmacy medication which can only be dispensed by a qualified pharmacist.

Please be aware that the above exemptions are only valid where the bag provided is used solely to contain one or more of these listed items.

It is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that bags are used to solely contain the items above. This can be achieved by only providing bags of a size suitable for containing items on the list.

‘Unpackaged’ for the purpose of the Regulations refers to items which are “wholly or partially unwrapped” such as chips from quick service restaurants or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking during normal handling.
1 Bags of a certain size used solely to contain packaged uncooked meat, poultry and fish:

As well as the above exemption on unpackaged foods, there is no obligation to charge if the bag is used SOLELY to contain packaged uncooked fish or fish products, packaged uncooked meat or meat products or packaged uncooked poultry or poultry products.
This exemption only applies where the bag is less than 206mm (width) x 459mm (height including handles) with a maximum gusset of 125mm.

2 Small bags that can always be supplied free of charge:

Small paper bags, no greater than 175mm x 260mm, without a handle and/or a gusset. These types of bags are generally used for small items such as greeting cards.
Small paper bags, no greater than 155mm x 80mm, without a handle but with a gusset of no more than 50mm. These types of bags are generally used for pick and mix confectionary or in pharmacies for non-prescription medicines.
Small flat plastic bags, no greater than 125mm x 125mm, without a handle. These types of bags are usually used for small hardware or haberdashery items such as screws or buttons.

3 Certain specialist bags are also exempted from the requirement to charge:

Mail order dispatch or courier bags for the delivery of goods.
Bags used for the transport of live aquatic creatures.
Liners used to cover boxes, crates or other containers of a similar nature.

4 Bags of any size used to contain items purchased in airports and on board vehicles, vessels and aircraft:

There is no obligation to charge for supplying single use carrier bags on board ships, trains, aircraft, coaches or buses. This bag does not have to be used solely to contain purchases made on board the vehicle.
There is no obligation to charge for supplying single use carrier bags in restricted areas in airports, including duty free shops and other airside retail outlets.
What a deeply complicated law

Oh well gives police Scotland something important to do

Tunku

7,703 posts

227 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
McWigglebum4th said:
Rockatansky said:
In greater detail: ( http://carrierbagchargescotland.org.uk/guidance/wh...)



The Regulations specify a number of exemptions where there is no requirement to charge for carrier bags.

Bags of any size used solely to contain exempted items listed in the Regulations:

Unpackaged food for human or animal consumption; such as loose fruit and vegetables, bakery items, pick and mix sweets and dry animal food.
Unpackaged loose seeds, bulbs, corms or rhizomes, such as grass seeds, daffodil bulbs or root ginger.
Any unpackaged axe, knife, knife blade or razor blades; such as a kitchen knife which is mounted on cardboard but not then enclosed in wrapping.
Unpackaged goods contaminated by soil; such as soil, compost, potted plants, fishing bait and wormery worms.
Certain medicinal products; such as fullfilling prescription requests and pharmacy medication which can only be dispensed by a qualified pharmacist.

Please be aware that the above exemptions are only valid where the bag provided is used solely to contain one or more of these listed items.

It is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that bags are used to solely contain the items above. This can be achieved by only providing bags of a size suitable for containing items on the list.

‘Unpackaged’ for the purpose of the Regulations refers to items which are “wholly or partially unwrapped” such as chips from quick service restaurants or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking during normal handling.
1 Bags of a certain size used solely to contain packaged uncooked meat, poultry and fish:

As well as the above exemption on unpackaged foods, there is no obligation to charge if the bag is used SOLELY to contain packaged uncooked fish or fish products, packaged uncooked meat or meat products or packaged uncooked poultry or poultry products.
This exemption only applies where the bag is less than 206mm (width) x 459mm (height including handles) with a maximum gusset of 125mm.

2 Small bags that can always be supplied free of charge:

Small paper bags, no greater than 175mm x 260mm, without a handle and/or a gusset. These types of bags are generally used for small items such as greeting cards.
Small paper bags, no greater than 155mm x 80mm, without a handle but with a gusset of no more than 50mm. These types of bags are generally used for pick and mix confectionary or in pharmacies for non-prescription medicines.
Small flat plastic bags, no greater than 125mm x 125mm, without a handle. These types of bags are usually used for small hardware or haberdashery items such as screws or buttons.

3 Certain specialist bags are also exempted from the requirement to charge:

Mail order dispatch or courier bags for the delivery of goods.
Bags used for the transport of live aquatic creatures.
Liners used to cover boxes, crates or other containers of a similar nature.

4 Bags of any size used to contain items purchased in airports and on board vehicles, vessels and aircraft:

There is no obligation to charge for supplying single use carrier bags on board ships, trains, aircraft, coaches or buses. This bag does not have to be used solely to contain purchases made on board the vehicle.
There is no obligation to charge for supplying single use carrier bags in restricted areas in airports, including duty free shops and other airside retail outlets.
What a deeply complicated law

Oh well gives police Scotland something important to do
This does look like my free prawn crackers will come in a free bag after all, Goody!
How complicated though.

driver67

Original Poster:

976 posts

164 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Socialists, keeping themselves in a job.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11037088/...

http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/cont...

Needs updated :-

The old 'BBC revolving door'

Chairman Gavin Davies (later Labour adviser)

Chairman Sir Michael Lyons (previously Labour council chief)

Director General John Birt (later Labour adviser)

Director General Greg Dyke (previously Labour donor and candidate)

C.O.O Caroline Thomson (previously Roy Jenkin's aide)

Head of Political Research Bill Bush (later Labour spin doctor)

Deputy Head of ditto Catherine Rimmer (later Labour spin doctor)

Director of Strategy Ed Richards (later Labour spin doctor)

Head of Corporate Planning James Purnell (now Labour Minister)

Head of Northern Ireland News Tom Kelly (later Labour spin doctor)

Scottish News Editor Tim Luckhurst (previously lLabour spin doctor)

Political News Editor Joy Johnson (later Labour spin doctor)

Political Editor Andrew Marr (student Labour organiser)

Home News Editor Celia Barlow (now Labour MP)

Head of European Affairs Chris Bryant (now Labour MP)

Newsnight Producer Phil Woolas (now Labour Minister)

Foreign Correspondent Martin Sixsmith (later Labour spin doctor)

Current Affairs Reporter Ben Bradshaw (now Labour Minister)

Current Affairs Reporter Lance Price (later Labour spin doctor)

"Question Time" Editor Gill Penlington (previously Labour researcher)

Many of them actually worked for the Labour party before, after and even during their BBC employment.

There are hundreds more, all in key editorial positions.


Edited by driver67 on Monday 20th October 23:05


Edited by driver67 on Monday 20th October 23:07

young_bairn

714 posts

175 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Went through the drive through at a horrible fast food chain and they now hand over the food in a plastic tray if you opt out the bag. The woman serving looked even more confused than I did as I nearly drove off with the tray.

Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Decided to treat myself to a jacket from belstaff yesterday they were very apologetic about charging me 5p for a massive paper bag gave me the option to take it away in a suit carrier.

AbzST64

578 posts

188 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Got told i'd be charged 5p for a bag yeaterday as it's law in co-op, said it's fine so paid for my shopping on my card...was away to walk off when the lady said oh sorry i forgot to charge you 5p for the bag so you'll have to pay for it! Didn't have any chage and told her this and also said im not paying 5p on my card, she just shrugged so i walked off smile

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
young_bairn said:
Went through the drive through at a horrible fast food chain and they now hand over the food in a plastic tray if you opt out the bag. The woman serving looked even more confused than I did as I nearly drove off with the tray.
I had a McD's on Tuesday. The intercom asked if I wanted a bag for 5p, I declined.

Food came out:

Fries in bag, sandwich in box, juice in carton.

Instead of fries and sandwich box in bag, juice in carton.

I'm thinking they should just exempt fast food restaurants silly

GoneAnon

1,703 posts

151 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
A lot of the rubbish I see strewn around the verges comes from the fast-food joints so I think they should have to charge for ALL their packaging, or give a refund when you bring it back for proper disposal.

As for anyone calling this a tax, it isn't because the money doesn't go to government - it allows the suppliers to donate the profits to charity. If they do, surely that's a good thing?

And for those calling the Scottish Government names, why not direct some of your wrath at other "stupid" administrations that have made similar moves. You know, places like Ireland and Wales. Or Denmark or Greenland.

Or the rest of the EU who are now obliged to take steps to reduce plastic waste by 80% by 2019. Or even England who will face a plastic bag charge from next year

Or Italy who completely banned plastic carrier bags in 2011. Or some of the other countries with complete or partial bans.

At least we get the choice to have bags on payment of the fee or not to have bags at all.

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

161 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
I used Morrison's self serve till today. The machine asked me how many bags I'd used and whether I was using my own bag. I pressed the button to say I'd used my own bag but just took one of theirs. The machine mustn't have seen me taking their bag because it didn't charge me the 5p. Guess that makes me a major criminal?

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
They're calling the Scottish government names because we're in Scotland, discussing the Scottish bag tax. Nothing to do with the Welsh or Italians hehe

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
vanordinaire said:
I used Morrison's self serve till today. The machine asked me how many bags I'd used and whether I was using my own bag. I pressed the button to say I'd used my own bag but just took one of theirs. The machine mustn't have seen me taking their bag because it didn't charge me the 5p. Guess that makes me a major criminal?
Maybe it's just where I live, but the self checkout at Tesco has a sign telling the customer to ask staff for bags.

Untrustworthy part of toon smile

XxcodfatherxX

2 posts

182 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
quotequote all
GoneAnon said:
As for anyone calling this a tax, it isn't because the money doesn't go to government - it allows the suppliers to donate the profits to charity. If they do, surely that's a good thing?
The government benefits from 1p/bag in vat, there is also no obligation to pay anything to charity, although it is being encouraged.....

"It is also up to individual businesses to decide what to do with the revenue. The government is gently encouraging them to donate the profits to good causes, "particularly ones that benefit the environment".

Zero Waste Scotland have signed up 160 retailers to their "Carrier Bag Commitment", meaning that they have agreed to donate the proceeds to good causes, and report on how many bags they have sold and how they've used the money."


I am in favour of it, if it has the desired effect to rid the countryside of bags, but feel that someone who is too lazy to put a used plastic bag in the bin, will be too lazy to carry a multi use one around!

Cheers

MDT

455 posts

171 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
So I have two questions

Rockatansky said:
Bags used for the transport of live aquatic creatures.
So if you buy say a gold fish and it dies on the way home? do you then have to pay 5p?

The SNP ran a lot of their Independence campaign on the back of the food banks... do "customers" at food banks have to pay 5p for the bags?


grumpyscot

1,277 posts

191 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
young_bairn said:
Went through the drive through at a horrible fast food chain and they now hand over the food in a plastic tray if you opt out the bag. The woman serving looked even more confused than I did as I nearly drove off with the tray.
Just keep the tray then! They're really useful in winter time for letting the kids slide down the street! And more durable than the paper bags too!

tighnamara

2,186 posts

152 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Visited local Chinese tonight, "that will be 10p for the bag sir"
"10p, I thought it was 5p"
"that is minimum sir, we are charging 10p"
No problem, as I take the £20 note back out of his hand and walk out the shop.
"Sir I will only charge 5p then"
"No thanks plenty other Chinese around"

So they go from charging nothing to 5p more than recommended, matter of principle and customer lost.

driver67

Original Poster:

976 posts

164 months

Friday 31st October 2014
quotequote all

Bag charge revolt in SNP heartlands smile

Dundee Asda security tags baskets as bag charge bites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-cent...


Tunku

7,703 posts

227 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
When I was shopping in Asda, I discovered a new wheeze. If I forget to take bags in, I empty everything as usual on the conveyor belt. When it's my turn and the checkout girl starts putting everything through the till, I just put it back in the trolley as it was when I arrived at the checkout. When asked if I need bags I say no. This disconcerts the checkout girl, but I'm doing nothing 'illegal'.
I then settle my bill and aim for the door via the racks of DVDs etc. that are placed after the checkouts. After a good browse, I aim for the door with what security seem to think is a full trolley of unpaid for goods. Does their head in but I think It's a good game.

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
hehe

Or find an almost empty crate on the way round the shop and use that to take stuff home. The things us Scots do to avoid a few 5p bills!

Steff1965

1,128 posts

194 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
Why should we pay for a bag when it's advertising the shop we got it from. They should pay us for advertising them or make the bags blank.




BrownBottle

1,365 posts

135 months

Saturday 1st November 2014
quotequote all
I bought a couple of the canvas bags at the supermarket, they're actually a pleasure to use compared to plastic bags, however..

I have always reused my bags as bin bags so I will now need to buy the same amount as bin bags now anyway.

I think the law applying to food outlets is unfair as you are hardly going to take your canvas bags to the local Chinese or Mcdonalds and get them contaminated with sauce, grease etc.

What about all the fancy packaging some of the products you buy in the shops comes in? a lot of it can be unnecessary and more to do with presentation, why is the humble bag that carries all this stuff getting targeted?