Carrier Bag use in Scotland

cs29

I understand that the money raised when retailers charge for bags is supposed to be monitored and sent on to the authorities. However B&Q is charging for bags that the government web site state as can be free issue IE pot plants or anything contaminated by soil. What happens to this money? I think many retailers will pocket this and we are thinking all proceeds go to good causes.

Widelats

cs29 wrote: »

I understand that the money raised when retailers charge for bags is supposed to be monitored and sent on to the authorities. However B&Q is charging for bags that the government web site state as can be free issue IE pot plants or anything contaminated by soil. What happens to this money? I think many retailers will pocket this and we are thinking all proceeds go to good causes.

If you have never worked for a "Good Cause" then let me explain.

The route this money goes through, is not "Good", it goes through a channel, and if you have ever seen how many hands are in the channel skimming here, taking this for themselves there, that for themselves there again, it ends up a shallow pool at the end instead of a deep puddle. Its the way it is, i quit "Good Causes" when i found soup kitchen volunteers putting donated tins of food into their own bags.

Wheres the 5p's going? I would guess the boss of the charity it goes to is already making excuses and plans trips abroad to forward the good deeds of the charity, preferably in Lanzarotte for 2 weeks for "meetings" and will they tell anyone what got done on these "meetings"? Well, no, you will never know, but you can take a wild guess when none of the charities that these 5p's are supposed to go to have actually seen any improvement at all.

comeandgo

I was in a charity shop and customer paid the expected 5p for plastic carrier but on the way out everyone was asked if they would like to take a plastic bag home and fill with items for said charity. I did wonder why it cost 5p for one bag that you requested but they were giving away other plastic bags.

Widelats

comeandgo wrote: »

I was in a charity shop and customer paid the expected 5p for plastic carrier but on the way out everyone was asked if they would like to take a plastic bag home and fill with items for said charity. I did wonder why it cost 5p for one bag that you requested but they were giving away other plastic bags.

I was in Poundland and asked if i wanted a carrier bag, i had like 10 things so i said yes, and he said thats 10p please....i said no, he said well we only have 10p ones - i refused, i said no again and to amend the total accordingly, he had to call his manager to the till to deduct the 10p while holding a huge queue up, so the manager said "Take the bag its ok" and i got it free, i left with a angry queue behind me.

Roland_Sausage

I'm fine with paying for plastic bags, but on the rare occasion I have gone to Mcdonalds, they are charging the 5p for those tiny paper bags.

I thought the law only applied to plastic bags. It's not like you can actually reuse a McDonalds bag as they are too small for general use, and get covered in grease anyway.

molerat

The law applies to paper bags as well.

The Scottish Parliament has passed legislation that will require ALL retailers (food and non-food) to charge a minimum of 5p for each new single-use carrier bag (including paper, those made from some plant based materials and plastic), from 20th October 2014. The aim is to encourage bag re-use and reduce the visible impact of litter.

molerat

cs29 wrote: »

I understand that the money raised when retailers charge for bags is supposed to be monitored and sent on to the authorities. However B&Q is charging for bags that the government web site state as can be free issue IE pot plants or anything contaminated by soil. What happens to this money? I think many retailers will pocket this and we are thinking all proceeds go to good causes.

The money belongs to the retailer, they can do what they want with it as long as they record the number of bags sold. If they wish to charge for a bag that can legally be free it is up to them.

The net proceeds of the charge belong to your business, however Scottish Government is keen to see these donated to good causes.

ariba10

It is close to four years that the bag charge has been in force in Wales and (living there) I have never paid it once.

Exile_geordie

Whats all the hubbub bub?


Ive been paying for a carrier in Aldi every time I shop there.