Lack of publicity over England's shops charging 5p a bag

wealdroam

suki1964 wrote: »

For me its not the 5p charge that's a problem, if the shops were charging that here then Id be ok with it. But its not, its a tax, going straight to the government

Not sure what happens in Northern Ireland, but this thread is about England's forthcoming charging for bags scheme.

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the Government's guidance on the scheme states:

Dealing with the proceeds

Once you’ve deducted reasonable costs, it’s expected that you’ll donate all proceeds to good causes.

Doesn't sound like a tax to me, nor does it imply that the proceeds go direct to government.

suki1964 wrote: »

When the levy first came in it was for single use carriers only. Its now been extended to all bags that have a retail value of less then 20p . One can only presume that this has been extended as less and less single use bags are being bought as more and more people are reusing bags and the Govt arent reaping in as much as they thought

Again, that is not (yet) happening in England.

suki1964 wrote: »

Just call me a cynic

OK... you're a cynic.

Bogof_Babe

I hope this doesn't apply to charity shops, as they don't have many "employees" anyway, mostly volunteers. They re-use the bags that people bring donations in, but presumably this will decline as donors will ask for their bags back when they take stuff in.

Ironically, I wouldn't mind paying for a bag in a charity shop, provided it goes to the charity!

All this gumph about re-using bags is all very well, until you have one bag in your pocket and decide to buy a new blouse in M&S and then some frozen peas in the Food Hall, then spot a pair of shoes you fancy on your way out. I hope people won't be made to feel ashamed when they do purchase a few 5p bags! "Planet destroyers":mad: !!!

I mainly walk or use the bus to get around, and don't always plan a shopping trip (I buy what we need when we need it, and sometimes remember something while I'm out, or buy on impulse). How many bags should I have in my pockets "just in case"?

Is it just carrier-size bags that will be subject to a charge? Will Boots still put your couple of cosmetics in a small bag, or will they charge for those as well?

Where's the best place to get cheap pedal bin liners?

Norman_Castle

trotter09 wrote: »

Anybody who believes charging for plastics bags will make one jot of difference to the planet's climate is bonkers.
.

I agree. Absolutely bonkers. Has anyone claimed plastic bags affect the climate?.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-why-were-introducing-the-charge/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-why-were-introducing-the-charge

Norman_Castle

suki1964 wrote: »

For me its not the 5p charge that's a problem, if the shops were charging that here then Id be ok with it. But its not, its a tax, going straight to the government

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/baglevy?gclid=CjwKEAjwmZWvBRCCqrDK_8atgBUSJACnib3lsmOkwOtgQCMbKxdpkdfYXDBvZ_PSjv4CiBRkgpB2VBoCikrw_wcB

Where does the money go?

The money raised is used to deliver local projects to improve the environment. In its first year (2013/14), £3.4m of the proceeds were spent on more than 250 projects delivered by the Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) Challenge Fund, Natural Heritage grants, Sustainability Innovation Fund and Local Clean-Up Support projects.

Ilona

What a load of moaning minnies. If you have a sewing machine it's easy to make fabric shopping bags, use a 10p bag for life as a pattern and copy it. Buy some thick cotton curtains from a car boot sale, our Age UK shop sells everything for £1. Check out Mors Bags if you don't know how to make them. I have been making shopping bags for a while now and giving them away. I take half a dozen with me when I go to the supermarket and hand them out. People think I am selling them, but smile when I say, no, I'm giving it to you free.

I picked up a heavy duty gazebo roof out of a skip about ten years ago, washed it, and made ten shopping bags out of it. I'm still using them, they will last another ten years and they cost me nothing.

I save all small plastic food bags that come into my house, bread bags, cereal bags, and use them to bag up rubbish. I don't have much rubbish in my kitchen bin because most of the packaging gets recycled in the relevant bins, glass, tins, cardboard, and plastics, and I eat all the food I buy so no smelly rotting food hanging around.

There are billions of tons of plastic waste finding it's way into the oceans and killing the sealife. Some of it is getting washed up on shore and killing land animals. The countryside is littered with tons of unsightly plastic bags in the hedgerows. Surely it's not that difficult to be a responsible and caring person and make a few simple changes for the good of the planet.

Ilona

Bogof_Babe

Ilona wrote: »

I save all small plastic food bags that come into my house, bread bags, cereal bags, and use them to bag up rubbish. I don't have much rubbish in my kitchen bin because most of the packaging gets recycled in the relevant bins, glass, tins, cardboard, and plastics, and I eat all the food I buy so no smelly rotting food hanging around.


Ilona

You're the one who buys those ready-peeled spuds and sprouts then? :rotfl:

sheramber

I am in Scotland where we have had the charge for a while now.

The local Cancer shop does not supply free bags. You have to pay if you want a bag.

Similarly, Boots do not put cosmetics , shampoo, soap etc in free bags.

Bogof_Babe

sheramber wrote: »

I am in Scotland where we have had the charge for a while now.

The local Cancer shop does not supply free bags. You have to pay if you want a bag.

Similarly, Boots do not put cosmetics , shampoo, soap etc in free bags.

Blimey, I'd better get ready to become a bag lady, the amount I will have to cart around!

Ilona

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

You're the one who buys those ready-peeled spuds and sprouts then? :rotfl:

Nope. I compost my veggie peelings outside on the compost heap. :rotfl:

Ilona

Bogof_Babe

Ilona wrote: »

Nope. I compost my veggie peelings outside on the compost heap. :rotfl:

Ilona

Sadly not an option in a first floor flat .