5p bag charge - your views

Cisco001

The only concern is my chicken.

i recently read something saying there are bugs even on the outer external plastic wrapping. And recommended not to mix the wrapped chicken with other food.

should we entitled to an extra free bag when purchasing chicken?

jenniewb

I have to say from the point of view of comfort, I tend to always bring my own bag, not so much to save the environment (which I am pleased is a by-product) but because if I carry anything it's a lot easier to carry it on my shoulder than to drag bags over my wrists.


Having said that, I am not so OK with the 5p charge. I know I'll end up paying it because there are so many occasions where I run out of the canvas bags or bags for life because the half price offer I was going to use is now a BOGOF offer or something else I saw I remembered I needed at the time I was in the supermarket or it was in the reduced-to-clear offer space....I can see myself getting caught out anyhow.
5p over a spend isn't for most people going to change and define their lives, but added up just feels a bit of an aggravating issue and I just hope that 5p we're all (mostly) going to end up paying does go somewhere other than the pockets of the supermarket fat-cats.


I would have thought it would have been a better plan to add a tax to suppliers adding excess packaging so they are caused to cut down their packaging and mean more things can fit into a carrier bag rather than a box-inside-a-box-inside-a-box... so much of what I end up throwing out is pointless decorative packaging and on the occasions I've taken the time to de-package things before leaving the shop I've almost halved the carrier bags I'd initially left with.


My main problem though is going to be how much I'm going to end up spending on bin-liners which is my usual use for carrier bags once I've finished with them and if buying a load on a roll will end up cheaper than paying per bag at the till.

Laurensalive

I am old enough to remember the days when all took shopping baskets for the groceries. I think this charge is good. But it will be a case of remembering to take one with me when I do the shopping. I do hope that there will be a list of good causes that do benefit from this charge.

Former_MSE_Helen

Torry Quine and frugalmacdugal- Good spot, I've amended that typo - it is of course the 5 Oct when this takes force - thanks.

To those who've asked why the thread now? You're right, we've known this will come into force for a while, but given it's happening on Monday, it's timely to raise the discussion again.

And thanks everyone for all the other comments - I love the ideas of making home-made bags. I have a bag for life for shopping, and a small roll-up bag for my handbag too. But from my experience, the smaller Express and Local stores don't tend to sell these.

jon81uk

MSE_Helen wrote: »

To those who've asked why the thread now? You're right, we've known this will come into force for a while, but given it's happening on Monday, it's timely to raise the discussion again.

But there was already a thread here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5328955 you could have added to that discussion instead of starting a new one.

teddysmum

Laurensalive wrote: »

I am old enough to remember the days when all took shopping baskets for the groceries. I think this charge is good. But it will be a case of remembering to take one with me when I do the shopping. I do hope that there will be a list of good causes that do benefit from this charge.

I remember shopping in the local town(walking distance from home)with my mum and helping her carry a bag by taking a handle each. However, in those days, shopping was done several days a week, as many didn't have a fridge to keep food fresh.


Tesco's publicity says the money will go to local good causes, but doesn't name any.



I'm surprised that none of the big supermarkets have chosen to provide strong paper bags (as in the US) to keep customers happy.... and be different.

jackomdj

I take bags to the supermarket, the only thing I will worry about is not taking enough bags so I will overcompensate and take loads.

I agree with the other poster about chicken, but you can probably put that in the plastic veg bags.

thriftylass

Cisco001 wrote: »

The only concern is my chicken.

i recently read something saying there are bugs even on the outer external plastic wrapping. And recommended not to mix the wrapped chicken with other food.

should we entitled to an extra free bag when purchasing chicken?

For uncooked meat/poultry/fish items or items like razors and prescription medicines etc you get a free bag at the till.

I totally agree with the charge. When you plan a big shop (rather than popping in at whim) how difficult can it be to take a bag or two with you like 20 years ago. As most of my shops are planned I pack a bag. On unplanned shops I make do.

If I get a home delivery I of course always asked for without bags. It takes two minutes longer to unpack the crate but I'm usually finished by the time he brought the second lot round or the bill to check.

sounds

Hi,


5p is not a large amount of money but I do believe we the British public are being conned. If its not a huge charge let the shops pay it! The charge is for plastic bags....well why not give us paper bags, Primark will they be charging?


I sort of see the logic of charging for bags for food after all its single use like the bags but I don't fancy bringing home my £50 jumper or white shirt from Marks & Sparks, in a bag that's had last weeks potatoes in with all the mud. The thing thats get me is I will have to buy a bag and I will be advertising the company all around town that I bought my garment from, I know that's the extreme end but I hope you get my point. Food yes clothes no! On the other side of things impulse buying will go out the window. 5p not a lot but its the principle of the matter for me.


Perhaps I will try on my proposed clothes purchase in the shop, order on line and have it delivered to store, it comes ready wrapped!!!


As for those who have their food delivered let the driver take longer to bring it in and take your time unloading it, means it will cost the store more as they will be doing fewer deliveries each day.

System

Cisco001 wrote: »

The only concern is my chicken.

i recently read something saying there are bugs even on the outer external plastic wrapping. And recommended not to mix the wrapped chicken with other food.

should we entitled to an extra free bag when purchasing chicken?

Any concerns, you need to contact Defra as they are the gov department that created the list of things you can get a free bag for. Plus you local MP.

If both consumers and retailers contact Defra about exclusions, esp the raw meat one as so vague, they have to reword or add another exclusion to the list.