Bag charging

[Plantaholic]

I always take hessian bags for food shopping, always have done because I didn't know what to do with the plastic bags after. When I shop in Viyella or CC they put clothes in a paper carrier, I usually use those again or I put them in the paper re-cycle bin as they are bio-degradable. I was in a local town and bought some knickers and the assistant said would I like a bag, well not wanting to carry knickers around I paid up for a bag which turned out to be an enormous plastic bag with their name on it, can't see why I should pay for advertising their company and I didn't need such a large bag. Am I being unreasonable?

[Oma]

Plant I object to advertising for a shop that charges for there bags , having said that the money charged goes to charity so I suppose that's ok , I always carry fold up bags with me so any small items can go in there the £1 shops sell rolls off small white bags with handles I did start buying them for my bathroom and bedroom bins but found they are ideal size to pop in handbag for smaller items

[Shemadee]

I must admit I was a bit taken aback when I bought a white top from CC. It was folded in tissue and then handed over to me. I did have a bag but it had other bits of shopping in it. No mention was made of a paper bag - surely they should be free as the issue was meant to tackle the longevity of plastic bags?

[Gemini]

You need a bag for your knickers for certain!

Holland and Barratt give you free paper carriers. I' m getting better at making sure I have a bag or two with me, but sometimes forget, then like Plant have to buy one. The fact that the money goes to charity makes it better.
I'm not sure if all the money goes to charity? The company SIL works for donates it all to charity, but I gather not all companies do.

[Gemini]

I must ask, what is CC? I have asked my daughter, and she doesn't know either!

[Plantaholic]

Country Casuals Gemini, Viyella is owned by the same company. They sell very smart but quite expensive garments. I happen to have a shop quite near to me but I do shop on line

[Shemadee]

CC are pricey but offer good sale prices and still do some 100% cotton items. I quite often order online and then collect the item from beatties. I actually went in to use the loo in beatties and came across the white top on the sale rail.

[Gemini]

I think there is a Country Casuals in York.

[ZIZI]

I bought a £15 tee shirt and £35 polo shirt from Next for son who will be 43 on Tuesday. I had already used one bag out of my car and usually have a fold up bag in my handbag but this time I must have left it at home. The assistant folded the garments up and said did I want a bag. I said well I can hardly walk out with the items in my hands so I had better have one BUT I said I seriously objected to having to pay for a back in a clothes shop. The law was made for food shops, it does not apply to clothes and shoe shops but these shops are on the bandwagon.

Also there was an article recently saying that one major food chain has donated only 1p per bag to charity. You cannot use freedom of information act to find out how much and to which charities the money is being donated. I paid £130 for a pair of boots in Debenhams and they charged 5p for a bag! Now I know it is nothing in terms of money but it is the principle. What was I supposed to do? Carry the boots under my arm in the rain? I agree with Plant, if the bag has advertising on it should be free. I saw on the train the other day some girls who had been to Primark and all of their bags appeared to be paper!

[Daisy]

I think Primark, like Holland & Barratt have always used paper carriers.

When the 'no free plastic bags' law came into force my DS2, who runs a retail shop, checked out what the situation was, and apparently you have to charge for plastic bags if you have more than 250 employees. I don't think it made any difference what you were selling. I do notice though, that the supermarkets still use plastic bags for items like apples, tomatoes, carrots etc that are pre-weighed, and supply small plastic bags for 'loose' fruit and veg. But this is nothing compared to the packaging around meat and fish. I bought 2 items of meat and 3 of fish the other day and looked at all those plastic containers stacked up in my fridge thinking that will all go to landfill!

[Plantaholic]

Next time it happens I shall turn the bag inside out

[ZIZI]

Daisy thanks for the correction, I must have misunderstood. I thought it was only food shops. Plant - yes I think I will do the same although I must admit I do usually have bags with me. I have a cotton patterned one that folds into a three inch square leather pouch. It usually sits in my bag r briefcase.

[Daisy]

Tizi - the media, as so often happens, majored on the supermarkets not supplying bags anymore.

My DS said even before the new rules most people refused a bag unless it was raining.



I wonder what has happened to the factories that produced all those bags we no longer use.

[Shemadee]

Yes, all those people who thought they had a job for life! Our butcher said that he can provide free bags and I assumed it was because of the meat though it might just be because of the number of employees.

[Daisy]

Shem - There are all sorts of exemptions (including live fish!!!!) which include raw meat, flowers and uncovered blades.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/65531/plastic-bags-to-cost-5p-the-baffling-new-rules-explained