Carrier bag challenge

soba

Not really a money saving idea as such, but a suggestion that we all try and cut down on the number of carrier bags we use. I work in a shop and get asked for carrier bags for the smallest of things - one onion, two bags of crisps etc. I'm sure that if we followed the Irish example where they are (I believe) charged 10p per bag it would make us think twice about whether we really need so many.
I'm as guilty as the next person but try and refuse wherever possible and I'm going to get a proper shopping bag, just like my nan! What do you folks think?
Thinking about it, it is money saving for the shopkeeper I suppose. Where I work the bags are given away FOC, so there are savings to be made for the shopkeeper and possibly passed on to the customers?

Al_Mac

Ours get reused as kitchen bin liners. Also when we have a home delivery, unpack as fast as we can to get the driver to take bags back.

:beer:

soba

I always reuse mine or take them to the charity shop - but wouldn't it be better not to have them in the first place, or follow the American example and have paper bags that are recyclable?

buffers

Al_Mac wrote:

Ours get reused as kitchen bin liners. Also when we have a home delivery, unpack as fast as we can to get the driver to take bags back.

:beer:

Not so good if the carriers aren't recyclable. Somerfield's are and the Co-op - not sure about the others. There is no doubt we must try and do something to save all this 'plastic' rubbish going into land-fill sites. I have a 'shopping bag' from an animal welfare charity which is useful and saves a bit, I suppose.

Mado

Just buy the Bag for life in the supermarket.
I use them all the time.
Still haven't reaplced any.
The rest is quite useful at the school fete for example for plants, or for nappy sacs (almost potty trained will have to think of something new)

Trying2Save_3

I agree, we should definately try to stop using so many, people would definately stop if they had to pay for them. I try to recycle them by using them as bin liners and when I take the dog for a walk to pick up his offerings! My aunt used to make bags with them, I haven't a clue how she used to do it.

Here's a link http://www.gov.im/dlge/waste/recycling/what/bags.xml

chickadee

I once saw in a magazine (Prima or Essentials or one of those) a knitting pattern for making a hard-wearing shopping bag by knitting up carrier bags. I kid you not!

Apparently you cut them into strips and can even select different coloured ones to make designs or stripes on your finished bag.

If only I had the time......

mah_jong

I have what is known affectionatly as a granny bag in my hand bag...yes its the famous roll up bag (this one is from Lakeland). I rarely use the shop bags....BUT I only do a small shop on a daily basis,

kscour

Part of the reason for the carrier bag tax in S. Ireland was that as they pay for their rubbish collection per bag people who couldn't/wouldn't pay for it were disposing of their rubbish by putting it in a carrier bag and lobbing it over hedges! On the plus side last time I was over there stores were supplying quite robust paper carrier bags free of charge - mine lasted quite a while and actually were alot more practical than plastic ones (& didn't dig into your hands so much) I would be quite happy to have them in Tescos etc. if only Tesco's etc. felt like putting themselves out and supplying them! At present my shopping gets packed into several large bags I purchased from Wilkinsons for 50p each and I notice lots of people using them for their shopping.

SnowyOwl_2

I think introducing a charge for bags would be fantastic! Just look at how people behave in Lidl - customers bring their own (pre-used) plastic bags, or pick up boxes to carry their goods in, or even just chuck it all into the boot of the car loose. You can buy a bag for 3p there, or 10p for a stronger one...but that 3p or 10p is enough to make people think twice and decide they don't need one and come up with another solution.

Plastic bags with the shop's name on are just another marketing tool/advertisement for the shop and it rather annoys me that I am used as a mobile advertising agent for Sainsburys etc etc.

If you ever have someone pack for you in the shop they use more bags than are necessary IMO. The worst offender seems to be Sainsbury's - they practically throw bags at you, yet they have a scheme in place where they give you 1p off your shopping if you use a bag you brought with you, not that many people bother with it. These two things seem to reflect a bit of an incoherent policy to bags.

It also irritates me a bit when I purchase fresh produce - I rarely use the clear plastic bags, but then the checkout assistant puts things into clear bags, though I ask him/her not to. There seems to be v.little awareness on the part of some check out assistants so the supermarkets don't seem to mind too much if they waste money on bags.

Allexie

chickadee wrote:

I once saw in a magazine (Prima or Essentials or one of those) a knitting pattern for making a hard-wearing shopping bag by knitting up carrier bags. I kid you not!

Apparently you cut them into strips and can even select different coloured ones to make designs or stripes on your finished bag.

If only I had the time......

Someone once posted instructions on the site for making Christmas garlands out of carrier bags....I had a go and they looked really good!