Plastic bags?

[Loosehead]

Should they be banned completely or just taxed as in Ireland for example? I think something needs to be done, the sheer volume of them is frightening, I think if they where not free then people would use reusable bags etc, what do ABers think?

[Libellule77]

I certainly think that the big supermarkets should NOT provide the disposable type bags at all. We should do what the Hypermarkets in France do - you can buy a really large, good quality bag for about 40p, and you take it back each time you shop. They last for ages !
People would soon get used to it - when you've finished unpacking your groceries, you bung it back in the car, and hey presto - it's there all ready to be used next time you shop !

[LoftyLottie]

Well actually, I use them as bin liners, so am in effect recycling them as I don't buy the purpose made plastic binliners.

[Gromit]

Shopping is not always planned. Often you go to the supermarket after you have done another activity and would not want to carry a shopping bag around with you all day. In short, I don't think they will go away because they are convenient. I am able to recycle mine back at the supermarket.

They are a mess when they are not disposed of properly. Maybe a more expensive but bio-degradable bag is the snswer.

[Ice.Maiden]

Good idea. Get rid of all the old bags.

[LoftyLottie]

They are also good as pooper scoopers, so as a dog owner I take them out with me. What I do think is dreadful is that there are purpose made bin liners, pooper scoopers, etc. etc. when these plastic carrier bags can be used for all sorts of things.

Our rubbish is only emptied fortnightly so I do wrap everthing in plastic bags to keep smells away. I often think how stupid it is as when the domestic food waste goes into landfill, surely the plastic will mean it won't rot down for years. I don't know what the alternative would be though.

[LoftyLottie]

LOL Ice-maiden, well that's me gone to start with!!!

[SKA]

we always reuse the bags for loads of things!
Do people actually just throw them away after just carrying shopping in them? Thats unheard of in our house!!

[Ice.Maiden]

Of course, I meant plastic bags LoftyLotty - so that's Sly Stallone's mum out of the way then!

[Dassie]

I don't think you can do away with them altogether as we alsofind them handy for waste bins.

I think a charge (tax) of 50p per bag would be sufficient to make people think twice about "needing" them and possibly using the re-usable types..

[libertie]

Apparently after they began taxing them in Ireland sales of bin liners increased.....which are even less environmentally friendly!

[LoftyLottie]

Perhaps they should ban the manufacture of bin liners, etc.!!!

[ruby27]

Loftylottie

but then we would have to wash our bins out as the interior wouldn't have been kept pristine from the use of either bag or liner. Surely a little environmental damage is ok to put up with rather than face the inconvenince of bin cleaning.

Like you I used them to line bins, then stopped getting them as had snappy jute bags, but then had to buy bin liners. Probably need draconian and oppressive legislation that bans the use of them, but that would upset people which must at all costs be avoided.

[China Doll]

You can take them back to the supermarket to get them recycled. So I do that.

I've been banned from getting a shopping trolley.

[LoftyLottie]

Ruby - many moons ago people used to wrap all their rubbish in newspaper. It worked very well. The bins stayed clean (but then they were emptied more regularly). Perhaps we could be educated to go back to this (although I actually read the news online these days!!).

I do admit that it's a chore washing out wheelie bins. Oooh how I hate the wretched things!!! They have taken over the countryside.

[Loosehead]

OK thanks everyone, some good points made.

[tara20]

When I was on holiday in September, one supermarket (I think it was Somerfield) offered a "bag for life". You pay for it and when it can't be used any more you take it back and get a new one free.
I think that's an idea others could take up.

[anotheoldgit]

Just another tax on us, it must cost the supermarkets thousands of pounds to supply these free plastic bags. But then they are not free are they? The cost goes onto the goods we buy, but will the saving be passed on to us when they no longer supply them? They should supply us with the old type brown paper carrier bags, these could be made out of re-cycled paper.

Just a thought though, how will the single mother Chavs, counter balance the multi number of kids in their push chairs, without the obligatory number of brimming plasic bags, hanging from the handles?

[gina32]

tesco morrisons and asda all do bags for life, if it rips take it back and you will get a new one free

[gina32]

and sainsburys

[anotheoldgit]

The best have got to be Harrods. But don't use them if you shop at Tesco..