Bag Tax

Easymoney

saverbuyer wrote: »

Good site here for anyone interest in some of the myths on plastic bags.

The scheme wasn't actually successful in the Republic.

http://www.allaboutbags.ca/irelandandlitter.html

Our own tax is clearly about raising revenue not decreasing landfill and littering.

Whatever guise DOE dress it up in, it's a double taxation, as your council are taxed again when it goes to landfill.

Easymoney

wriggly wrote: »

Living in Wales with the bag tax, it is barely worth debate.

If you are going shopping, take some bags with you.

If you buy something on an impulse, and want a bag, an extra 5p on the purchase price is not worth worrying about. And you can reuse the bag for free next time!

You can buy bin bags for about 2p each at Home Bargains or similar stores. Yes, it's an extra expense, but there's worse things to worry about.

Thanks, but it's not the nominal 5p, more the principal of our inept DOENI.
Wales/ROI are not taxed on paper and natural bags, which kind of makes sense.

Next year, it goes up to 10p, there was proposal of 17p a bag.

I agree, buy your bags for much cheaper, very MSE

wriggly

Easymoney wrote: »

Thanks, but it's not the nominal 5p, more the principal of our inept DOENI.
Wales/ROI are not taxed on paper and natural bags, which kind of makes sense.

In Wales, the tax applies to all bags, plastic and paper, designated as "single use" (even though they are often reused). This makes sense, as studies have shown that paper bags are actually less environmentally friendly than the thin plastic shopping bags.

Easymoney wrote: »

Next year, it goes up to 10p, there was proposal of 17p a bag.

This is always the danger. The 5p rate works because it provides an incentive to reuse bags, but does not inconvenience people too much when they forget to bring their bags or make an impulse buy.

mezza101

wriggly wrote: »

This is always the danger. The 5p rate works because it provides an incentive to reuse bags, but does not inconvenience people too much when they forget to bring their bags or make an impulse buy.

will some people just not bother with bags for a big shop, can load from trolley into car boot

anyhow its not the bags its all the packaging on goods that generate the most rubbish

tommie

I carry a load of those Lidl plastic bags in the back of the car, can`t see Tescos being too impressed when i fill `em up at the till ?!!

whiskeygalore

Must say that Mr Attwood is doing his best to squeeze every penny out of the ordinary working class family.wonder what next is he still try to increase the price of alcohol ??

Easymoney

wriggly wrote: »

In Wales, the tax applies to all bags, plastic and paper, designated as "single use" (even though they are often reused). This makes sense, as studies have shown that paper bags are actually less environmentally friendly than the thin plastic shopping bags.

Apologies! I stand corrected on the tax on paper bags in Wales, I thought you were the same as ROI.

Which studies do you mean?, the 2007 study sponsored by US plastic bag manufacturers, of course they would ditch the paper market, it's in their invested interest to do so.

...........nothing but US propaganda

wriggly

Easymoney wrote: »

Which studies do you mean?, the 2007 study sponsored by US plastic bag manufacturers, of course they would ditch the paper market, it's in their invested interest to do so.

...........nothing but US propaganda

Would you accept the UK Environment Agency? Link: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/129364.aspx

The paper, LDPE, non-woven PP and cotton bags should be reused at least 3, 4, 11 and 131 times respectively to ensure that they have lower global warming potential than conventional HDPE carrier bags that are not reused.

So a single-use paper bag is 3 times worse than a single-use plastic bag. And if you re-use your plastic shopping bags for garbage, you would have to use the paper bag 6 times. (Edit: Actually the report says 7 times, must be due to rounding).

Mistral001

There has been a sort of voluntary bag reduction policies by some big companies operating for some years.

Lidl's is perhaps the prime example where they have been charging for bags for years and do not supply any free bags.

Does anybody know if Lidl's have increased the cost of the bags by 5p? Or are they just the same price as before?

PS: B&Q over recent years seems to have a policy of not providing bags unless you go out of your way to ask for one. I suppose it will make the introduction of pay-for bags easier for them.

woofwoofwoof

Mistral - I was in Lidl today and below the 9p price ticket for the bags it said that 5p of that was government tax.