Bag for Life

Alderbank

dealyboy said:

I attempted to replace my Waitrose plastic carrier bag yesterday, as after five years of usage it had developed a tear in the bottom. Although the words 'REPLACED FOR FREE' were along the bottom of the bag, they refused, stating that they'd had a change of policy.

A manager repeated that the policy had changed and they no longer offered those bags anyway. I told him 'What if I were including you in my will and on the 'reading' my policy had changed? ... another suitable bag will do'.

I was given one of their £1 toughened plastic bags.

They quite rightly would have changed their policy when the law changed.
From 21 May 2021 they must charge at least 10p for each non-woven plastic bag 'unless multiple reuse bags (bags for life), when replacing free of charge, if originally sold for 10 pence or more.'

In the early days bags for life were often sold for 5p. Indeed, lots were given away free to encourage shoppers to use them instead of the disposable ones.
So unless you could produce your till receipt showing you paid 10p or more for that bag, it is now illegal for Waitrose to replace it for free.

You say they did replace it free. The fixed penalty for the offence of not charging for bags appropriately is £200. If they were to challenge the fixed penalty in court, the maximum penalty if they were found guilty is £5,000.

You were lucky to get your free bag and they were lucky not to be fined!

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities#full-publication-update-history

nyermen

Just FYI, at the Sainsburys in Farnborough today.  Can't speak for other supermarkets.

Alderbank

i've exchanged quite a few at my local Sainsburys in Scotland without any bother.

I'm not posh enough to shop at Waitrose.