Single use? Plastic bags

economiser

Why are the bags for which shops now have to charge 5p (although most are not worth anything like that) designated as "single use"? I have always reused them but it seems I should not. Who made this decree?

System

The retail industry consider them as single use hence the label. If they tried to say that they were re-usable then people would be up in arms if they started falling apart on the 2nd or subsequent use

michaels

Don't the plastic 'bags for life' need to survive 40 or somethign uses before they become enviromentally better than the 'single use' bags (that many supermarkets had made biodegradable). I don't think the ones we have will last that long but still why let environmental reality get in the way of good intentions.

Ectophile

michaels wrote: »

Don't the plastic 'bags for life' need to survive 40 or somethign uses before they become enviromentally better than the 'single use' bags (that many supermarkets had made biodegradable). I don't think the ones we have will last that long but still why let environmental reality get in the way of good intentions.

My Tesco bags for life generally last a few years before they finally fall apart. They really do last much longer than the flimsy single-use ones.

Even when they do end up beyond use, Tesco will take them back for recycling.

(other bags for life are also available)

Norman_Castle

michaels wrote: »

Don't the plastic 'bags for life' need to survive 40 or somethign uses before they become enviromentally better than the 'single use' bags (that many supermarkets had made biodegradable). I don't think the ones we have will last that long but still why let environmental reality get in the way of good intentions.

Part of the intention of reducing plastic bag use is to reduce litter. If reuseable bags are used repeatedly then discarded litter will be reduced. If they are returned for exchange they wont become litter as they will be recycled.

Norman_Castle

economiser wrote: »

Why are the bags for which shops now have to charge 5p (although most are not worth anything like that) designated as "single use"? I have always reused them but it seems I should not. Who made this decree?

There's no decree. They are designed for single use but you're welcome to use them as many times as you want.