5p bag charge - your views

Pennywise

What I can't understand is why smaller shops and fast food outlets are exempt. Surely, these are the places where a large amount of fly-tipping will occur, i.e. fast food cartoons etc left in laybys or thrown out of vehicles, and also the stereotypical yobs buying a few packs of cans from the local offy - again more likely to dump the bags rather than re-use them. I'm not at all sure that they're targetting the real culprits if they're just aiming at the large stores etc, after all many people will reuse their carriers in the kitchen bins etc.

Nick_C

Pennywise wrote: »

What I can't understand is why smaller shops and fast food outlets are exempt.

Its to avoid placing an additional administrative burden on small businesses. Its not just a question of charging for the bags, participating retailers have to provide information on numbers, admin costs, and what they do with the net proceeds; not just to Central Government but to anyone who asks for the information.

Affected retailers are also subject to inspection by the local council.

Small businesses are seen by the Government as key players in creating jobs and growth, and the Government tries to do its best to encourage them.

If you've ever been involved with a small business, you will know just how much they are burdened with regulation and compliance.

Small businesses can charge for carrier bags if they want to, and I'm sure some of them will, but its their choice.

teddysmum

Big_Graeme wrote: »

You are not re-using them, you are just throwing them away with something in them.

There should be no need to line a bin with plastic, there are many bins on the market that you can clean out.

You are re-using them, as they are being used to contain rubbish which , otherwise, would require a bin liner .

teddysmum

Nick_C wrote: »

If its a plastic bag, they must charge for it. If its a paper bag, and you are in England, it can be free.

According to the press, most clothing outlets will not have to charge as they provide heavier quality bags, while the legislation covers single use bags ,defined by their density.

Norman_Castle

Pennywise wrote: »

many people will reuse their carriers in the kitchen bins etc.

But many people don't reuse them. I've never used them to line bins. Despite using my own reusable bags for years I've got a bag full of single use bags in a cupboard. People I know who use them to line bins always have more than they need to the extent they double or triple bag everything just because they've got so many spare, free bags.
Because these bags are free and readily available they've become valueless. Charging for them will change that.

LABMAN

teddysmum wrote: »

You are re-using them, as they are being used to contain rubbish which , otherwise, would require a bin liner .

When the charge came in here we stopped using bin liners as they are really not necessary.

Norman_Castle

A._Badger wrote: »

There has has been a complete loss of any sense of proportion over this move.

Mainly by people who will now have to spend a small amount each year on bin liners.:eek:

Big_Graeme

teddysmum wrote: »

You are re-using them, as they are being used to contain rubbish which , otherwise, would require a bin liner .

As far as I know there is no legal requirement to use a bin liner.

Nick_C

Big_Graeme wrote: »

As far as I know there is no legal requirement to use a bin liner.

There's no legal requirement to use toilet paper either but in the interests of cleanliness I'll carry on buying it. Ditto binliners.

System

Not using a bin liner isn't an option for most people:
. Those use communal bins, the bins will stink as the stuff like veg peelings will fall to the bottom. Doubt they are cleaned.
. Wheelie bins - difficult to clean the bin. Plus with fortnightly collections, the smell in the summer will be disgusting
. Black bag collections - because having to make sure they are out by 7am, most people put them out night before, Foxes etc rip the black bag. As the rubbish has gone directly inside the black sack, rubbish falls out. Bin men don't pick it up and it rains or gets hot, more smells and impossible to shift

I live in a block of flats where there is a communal bin area and the houses have black bags and see plenty of ripped bags as the tenants throws the rubbish directly into the black bag.

My parents use bin liners in their kitchen bin so their rubbish is double wrapped.