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

Azari

suki1964 wrote: »

We get charged for ALL bags so makes no difference

Let face it, we all get charged for all bags. Just because some retailers include it in their overheads does not mean that we're not paying for it.

Since some people refused to act responsibly of their own volition we are now all being penalised - although those of us who have always reused bags will not find the charge onerous.

SarahQ85

suki1964 wrote: »

We get charged for ALL bags so makes no difference

In Northern Ireland do they charge you for paper bags too?

I've been reading the about the new law for England on the gov.uk website and can't see any mention of paper bags at all - maybe we'll still be allowed free paper bags here.

I'm quite used to (re)using 'bags for life' for food shopping - but I tend not to for clothes, books, gifts etc.

wealdroam

SarahQ85 wrote: »

I've been reading the about the new law for England on the gov.uk website and can't see any mention of paper bags at all...

Then I guess you didn't read the section of the guidance on exemptions. It is linked to several times on this thread.

SarahQ85

SarahQ85 wrote: »

In Northern Ireland do they charge you for paper bags too?

I've been reading the about the new law for England on the gov.uk website and can't see any mention of paper bags at all - maybe we'll still be allowed free paper bags here.

I'm quite used to (re)using 'bags for life' for food shopping - but I tend not to for clothes, books, gifts etc.

I've done a bit more reading... it seems in England this legislation does only affect plastic bags - paper bags are are exempt: 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

(Unlike in N Ireland, Scotland and Wales)


Edit: Ooops, thanks Wealdroam - crossposted!

teddysmum

wheelz wrote: »

Plastic bags go into landfill. Landfill causes air and ground (water) pollution. Less waste is less lorries/traffic etc. etc. Bags also litter the environment.

I think most of us do reuse the bags, commonly for more shopping, kitchen waste or picking up animal waste and will have to buy alternatives for the latter two (bin liners,pedal bin liners, poo bags), so will still be using plastic, so there is little difference in pollution by plastic.



The litter louts, who just dump bags, will probably continue to do so.

enfield_freddy

wheelz wrote: »

Plastic bags go into landfill. Landfill causes air and ground (water) pollution. Less waste is less lorries/traffic etc. etc. Bags also litter the environment.

so this is the reason everyone is bragging about using there old bags for waste and putting there rubbish in and then carrying to there dustbins? , so it then goes to landfill ?

pmduk

wheelz wrote: »

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

There's a video and transcript.

Just remember that's a site peope only visit if they already know a change is due

suki1964

SarahQ85 wrote: »

In Northern Ireland do they charge you for paper bags too?

I've been reading the about the new law for England on the gov.uk website and can't see any mention of paper bags at all - maybe we'll still be allowed free paper bags here.

I'm quite used to (re)using 'bags for life' for food shopping - but I tend not to for clothes, books, gifts etc.

Yes paper bags and bags for life all attract the extra charge

If you look up the NI govt website you will see this change came about after the revenue from the single use bags fell

Yes it's been pointed out to me already in this thread that the money is going to envoirmental causes. Yes it is, stop gapping the money that's been withdrawn from storment

Don't get me wrong, I'd happily pay the charge if it was the shop charging me and keeping the money. It's transparent, you want a bag then that's 5p please ( as it was many moons ago when I worked in shops). However it's not. No matter how they sugar coat it it is a tax. So in England now at the launch it will be up to the stores to choose where the money goes, how long do you think that will last? Or how long do you think that as soon as Sainsburys put their donation to say the arts, then the arts budget will be cut again?

Takeaway_Addict

suki1964 wrote: »

Yes paper bags and bags for life all attract the extra charge

If you look up the NI govt website you will see this change came about after the revenue from the single use bags fell

Yes it's been pointed out to me already in this thread that the money is going to envoirmental causes. Yes it is, stop gapping the money that's been withdrawn from storment

Don't get me wrong, I'd happily pay the charge if it was the shop charging me and keeping the money. It's transparent, you want a bag then that's 5p please ( as it was many moons ago when I worked in shops). However it's not. No matter how they sugar coat it it is a tax. So in England now at the launch it will be up to the stores to choose where the money goes, how long do you think that will last? Or how long do you think that as soon as Sainsburys put their donation to say the arts, then the arts budget will be cut again?

I doubt it.

Any evidence that budgets have been specifically cut because of the bag charge in places such as Wales and NI?

You've taken cyniscism to a new level!

System

In Wales the money goes to good causes. It is up to the retailer which ones, it could be a government scheme or local or national charities, so the chances of any budget cuts in government funded areas are minimal.