The Demise of the Carrier Bag

[GillD46]

But here in Wales, the use of plastic bags HAS been reduced - considerably - since they were charged for several years ago!

[anniec]

Do you happen to know if they are just counting the number of ex-freebie bags handed out, or have they factored in the additional plastic bags bought (for example flimsy bin liners, which many will now be buying to replace the bags once given out for nothing, and which will all also end up in landfill)?

[oldbluefox]

I'm all in favour of charging for plastic bags. In the recent winds our trees have gathered yet another which will hang there until it rots or another wind shreds it away. I ordered a few nylon shoppers from my friends in China which are light enough to sit in my rucksack so an ever ready bag is no problem.
As for expensive clothing what is wrong with stores putting your goods in paper bags/carrier? I notice a well known greetings card shop now put your card in paper bags. I suppose it is only a matter of time before this becomes the norm.

[towny44]

But here in Wales, the use of plastic bags HAS been reduced - considerably - since they were charged for several years ago!

Gill, read my post again I am only referring to non supermarket bags.
We have taken our own re-usable bags to the supermarket for years and I only ever used their bags when I shopped for a few items at our local sainsburys and used their self check out tills.

[towny44]

I'm all in favour of charging for plastic bags. In the recent winds our trees have gathered yet another which will hang there until it rots or another wind shreds it away. I ordered a few nylon shoppers from my friends in China which are light enough to sit in my rucksack so an ever ready bag is no problem.
As for expensive clothing what is wrong with stores putting your goods in paper bags/carrier? I notice a well known greetings card shop now put your card in paper bags. I suppose it is only a matter of time before this becomes the norm.

I would have no problem with a paper carrier bag for non food shops, in fact I did post earlier that M&S gave me a free one when my purchases exceeded £100, but it appears this is not standard across all their stores.

[towny44]

Do you happen to know if they are just counting the number of ex-freebie bags handed out, or have they factored in the additional plastic bags bought (for example flimsy bin liners, which many will now be buying to replace the bags once given out for nothing, and which will all also end up in landfill)?

Exceedingly good point Annie which underlines the old saying about "Lies, damn lies and statistics", the proof about any reduction in the number of plastic bags going to landfill will take decades to uncover.

[Dark Knight]

all plastic carrier bags can be recycled and not just thrown in land fill to decompose over time. If people were more considerate about how they dispose of the bags, rather than throwing them out of the car window or dropping them anywhere then this may not have happened.
regardless of any taxation, the point is for people to dispose of the bags more responsibly in the first place, so a tax on bags is to make people think do they really need one in the first place? and if that number reduces then the amount seen decorating the landscape may also reduce.
lazy stupid people are the cause of this issue, not the carrier bags

[towny44]

There is some truth in what you say DK but my understanding is that the major element in the pollution of the seas and countryside from plastic bags results from landfill sites. There are some litter louts who will discard them anywhere but I suspect the resultant bag pollution is minscule compared with landfill. But the plastic bag will remain the main item used to discard unwanted smelly and soggy rubbish into our dustbins, regardless of this current bag tax, either because people pay the 5p, or more likely buy a cheap roll of bin liners to replace the free supply from shops.
Ergo the problem will continue and landfill bulldozers will continue to scatter plastic rubbish to the four winds.

[Dark Knight]

the issue is collection and disposal by the council, if the public dispose of them correctly , then it is up to the various recycling people to do their bit to recycle all the bags
this is a major point of discussion within the British Plastics federation and the various plastic recycling initiatives

just a point on plastics in the oceans, the biggest cause of plastic pollution in the oceans is by containers falling off ships, illegal dumping out at sea and micro-polymer granules that are not filtered out of waste water
the sensationalised pictures of marine life wrapped in beer can holders are less than 1% of 1% of the contamination
google the great pacific garbage patch and the BPF website for proper less Daily Wail type facts

[anniec]

all plastic carrier bags can be recycled and not just thrown in land fill to decompose over time. If people were more considerate about how they dispose of the bags, rather than throwing them out of the car window or dropping them anywhere then this may not have happened.
regardless of any taxation, the point is for people to dispose of the bags more responsibly in the first place, so a tax on bags is to make people think do they really need one in the first place? and if that number reduces then the amount seen decorating the landscape may also reduce.
lazy stupid people are the cause of this issue, not the carrier bags

You make an excellent point. However, carrier bags are but a drop in the ocean of a sea of waste decorating the verges around Anniec Towers. Tax everything, that's what I say!

[GillD46]

Do you happen to know if they are just counting the number of ex-freebie bags handed out, or have they factored in the additional plastic bags bought (for example flimsy bin liners, which many will now be buying to replace the bags once given out for nothing, and which will all also end up in landfill)?

The reports say fewer plastic bags are being disposed of, since the ban. Works well!

[qbman1]

Bound to reduce the numbers - we are all far to mean to fork out a shilling !

[oldbluefox]

Has anybody seen anyone rifling the carrier bag recycling bin at the supermarket yet?

[qbman1]

No, but we went to lunch at my nephew's last weekend and came home with three bags stuffed with plastic carriers !!

[oldbluefox]

No, but we went to lunch at my nephew's last weekend and came home with three bags stuffed with plastic carriers !!

Christmas comes early to some.

[CaroleF]

I have just returned from M&S after collecting a joint of beef I ordered. This was just handed to me in its see through plastic wrapping. I just assumed, wrongly evidently, that if you buy raw meat it must come in some sort of bag. What happens in the butcher if you buy say 400grams of minced beef - how is that wrapped. I had bags with me so not a problem but just surprised. Sometimes with things like joints of meat, they do tend to leak.

[qbman1]

I have just returned from M&S after collecting a joint of beef I ordered. This was just handed to me in its see through plastic wrapping. I just assumed, wrongly evidently, that if you buy raw meat it must come in some sort of bag. What happens in the butcher if you buy say 400grams of minced beef - how is that wrapped. I had bags with me so not a problem but just surprised. Sometimes with things like joints of meat, they do tend to leak.

The supermarkets are permitted to dispense free bags with fish and meat products (assuming they want to !!)

[Manoverboard]

Go to Sainsbury's they always put meat in a leek / leak proof bag.

[qbman1]

Blod wouldn't appreciate a leek-proof bag !!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Or order your meat from you local butcher since small shops are exempt from this rule. May cost you more than the 5p you saved though.

[Romig1]

I read the rules in detail a few weeks ago, and if I remember correctly....

Bags for raw meat and/or fish must be supplied FOC. If you, as the customer then load other items in that bag, it becomes chargeable.

I may be proven wrong, but that's what I made of the rules.

[anniec]

Think you're right. However, I couldn't work out if it would be a proper carrier bag or a smaller one, the type they used to put meat and fish in. They haven't made it easy...

[CaroleF]

Today's Telegraph magazine on their page where they show 'celebrities' at various activities, today about Thanksgiving, it shows Jennifer Garner wheeling a supermarket trolley full of shopping in PAPER carrier bags. I remember paper carries in Sainbury's years ago and they were quite strong. Why don't supermarkets go back to paper bags - maybe because it would be too expensive?

[Ranchi]

Time, cost, space......oh & to quote CJ ' I didn't get to where I am today by making logical decisions'. (CJ MD, Sunshine Desserts)

[Mervyn and Trish]

In Sainsbury's today. No sign of old type flimsy carrier bags. A choice of two types of plastic "bag for life", one slightly stronger than the other, priced at 5p and 10p, and both saying they were fully recyclable and bring me back when I'm worn out and you can have another free. On that basis there is surely no issue in forking out the initial investment. So the only argument is can you be bothered to keep them in the car for next time you go? Well we have kept several strong hessian/cotton/canvas bags in the car for ages to do just that. So planet saved surely? Can't see an argument against. But I still agree with Towny about buying say heavyweight clothes in M&S. Don't need a free bag for socks but if I'm buying a new coat say that feels different.

p.s. (Sorry Towny if all this agreeing is unnerving you - I still don't like Calamity - though one of our strong bags has their logo!)