5p bag charge - your views

robin58

ScarletMarble wrote: »

I don't think any two councils operate the same policy for recycling. Even the colours of the bags, bins and boxes.

Black bag for general rubbish.
Pink bag for recyclables
White bag for Cloth.
Cornstarch bag for Garden.

Blue box for food recylcing.

Plus I use the Aldi 99p pack of black bags.

Super_Consumer

Whilst many agree the implementation of the 5p carrier bag charge in supermarkets was a good move, probably nearly as many have found the hole in the plan i.e. protecting clothes and other vulnerable items.
Whilst re-using a bag for groceries doesn't present a problem using the same bag for unprotected vulnerable items such as clothing is another matter and it's not what the legislation was intended for if we believe all that has been written about it.
For instance if food items are unwrapped the bag can be provided for free so why not clothing?
Perhaps the legislation needs updating to exempt items of clothing and other vulnerable items not otherwise protected?
Alternatively there is a lot the retailers can do to help, primarily by providing protective packaging that does not invoke the 5p charge, i.e. paper bags like Primark or plastic bags without handles? It seems the big retailers have been very quick to jump at the chance to save a bit of money rather than providing their customers with the service they now require i.e. proper protection for their new purchases.
Perhaps if we all refused to accept unprotected items of clothing or to pay the 5p charge they may think again?
But it's only 5p is a common argument but it's still a charge imposed by government and not justified in their arguments for it's introduction. Would they get away with an extra .25% on VAT as easily? I don't think so.
So if you agree this is an area that needs reviewing then let DEFRA know (They're the ones responsible for the legislation), complain to your MP and most of all complain to the stores you buy from. Write to the MD or CEO and say you want adequate protection for the goods you purchase and point out they can do this within the legislative framework if they want to. The question is, do they want to? Do they really care enough to provide a free plastic bag to protect your purchase costing less than 1p each?

[Deleted User]

Super_Consumer wrote: »

Whilst many agree the implementation of the 5p carrier bag charge in supermarkets was a good move, probably nearly as many have found the hole in the plan i.e. protecting clothes and other vulnerable items.
Whilst re-using a bag for groceries doesn't present a problem using the same bag for unprotected vulnerable items such as clothing is another matter and it's not what the legislation was intended for if we believe all that has been written about it.
For instance if food items are unwrapped the bag can be provided for free so why not clothing?
Perhaps the legislation needs updating to exempt items of clothing and other vulnerable items not otherwise protected?
Alternatively there is a lot the retailers can do to help, primarily by providing protective packaging that does not invoke the 5p charge, i.e. paper bags like Primark or plastic bags without handles? It seems the big retailers have been very quick to jump at the chance to save a bit of money rather than providing their customers with the service they now require i.e. proper protection for their new purchases.
Perhaps if we all refused to accept unprotected items of clothing or to pay the 5p charge they may think again?
But it's only 5p is a common argument but it's still a charge imposed by government and not justified in their arguments for it's introduction. Would they get away with an extra .25% on VAT as easily? I don't think so.
So if you agree this is an area that needs reviewing then let DEFRA know (They're the ones responsible for the legislation), complain to your MP and most of all complain to the stores you buy from. Write to the MD or CEO and say you want adequate protection for the goods you purchase and point out they can do this within the legislative framework if they want to. The question is, do they want to? Do they really care enough to provide a free plastic bag to protect your purchase costing less than 1p each?

If you have money to splash out on expensive clothing from those shopping meccas then you can afford 5p.

All my clothes I buy online from eBay, ASDA, and other low cost places. Or Primark but I hardly ever visit those shopping temples.

Oh and the bag can be reused so next time you go, take it with you again.

prowla

Talk about missing the point - the idea is to reduce the number of bags.

Actually, the higher quality bags that the high-street retailers use are probably worse and less reusable than the supermarket ones.

The best solution is to just take a bag out with you when you go to the shops (maybe a designer one?).

System

It's almost six months since the bag charge and from my experience from my job in retail that there are still many that still not bringing their bags, can't get over the idea of carrying their own bags, empty. How hard is it to fold a bag or two to put into a handbag or coat pocket?

When I visit supermarkets, the customer in front of me say to the cashier, they say they forgotten their bags and left them in the car. Then pack their shopping in 5p bags and put them into the trolley. Why don't you pack at the car? If it's pouring with rain, it's a form of serves you right punishment. Allowing a carrier bag for small items like jars of herbs, stock cubes etc.

Some of these people above will keep doing the above if carrier bags were £5 a bag

Lingua

ScarletMarble wrote: »

It's almost six months since the bag charge and from my experience from my job in retail that there are still many that still not bringing their bags, can't get over the idea of carrying their own bags, empty. How hard is it to fold a bag or two to put into a handbag or coat pocket?

When I visit supermarkets, the customer in front of me say to the cashier, they say they forgotten their bags and left them in the car. Then pack their shopping in 5p bags and put them into the trolley. Why don't you pack at the car? If it's pouring with rain, it's a form of serves you right punishment. Allowing a carrier bag for small items like jars of herbs, stock cubes etc.

Some of these people above will keep doing the above if carrier bags were £5 a bag

I've started to take a small cloth bag with me wherever I go (thing but durable so can hold all my food shopping). I occasionally forget it (if I've used it and then forgotten to put it back in my bag/coat) but I don't mind paying 5p then as it's my mistake. But doing it repeatedly only leaves you out of pocket (5p is 5p, this is MSE).

Pollycat

Lingua wrote: »

I've started to take a small cloth bag with me wherever I go (thing but durable so can hold all my food shopping). I occasionally forget it (if I've used it and then forgotten to put it back in my bag/coat) but I don't mind paying 5p then as it's my mistake. But doing it repeatedly only leaves you out of pocket (5p is 5p, this is MSE).

I've got a variety of thin fabric bags that fold up really small - Primark do them for £1, they fold up to 3" x 3" x 1/2" and are pretty roomy when opened - and I (almost) always have a couple of bags-for-life (in case I pop into our local Tesco Metro) and a M&S/Next/Monsoon bag (in case I impulse buy an item of clothing) but if I ever did find I was bagless, I'd never pay 5p for a bag.
I'd opt to pay 10p for a bag-for-life.
Twice as much outlay for something that will last forever?
I think that makes more financial sense.

KxMx

I shopped in a Subway concession located in a Co-Op today and was charged 5p.

When I queried this (because i've never been charged in a Subway) I was told "Because we are in a Co-Op" and the lady serving me pointed to a Government legislation poster.

I was buying only unwrapped food and my money went through a Subway till and my receipts were Subway with no mention of The Co-Op.

I have asked Subway & Co-Op for clarification because I was actually told two different things and I don't believe either was correct.

jon81uk

I've always been surprised that Subway give me a bag for free at all. I think all the subways should charge. It annoys me even more that they don't ask if you are eating in, they just put the sandwich in the bag, I then walk three steps sit down and take the sandwich out the bag, what a waste of plastic!

w50nky

Is there a 5p charge when you buy your clothes online? Or do they come unwrapped? Just curious.