Charging For Carrier Bags

[samthetam]

I am the manager in an independently owned small shop.
We use paper bags for customers buying goods. They do not have handles so therefore are not what I would call a carrier bag. Do we have to charge our customers?

[Svejk]

I don't know the law but we've been charged for bags for a long time here.(in Wales)
And I've never been charged for a paper bag.

[samthetam]

thanks. I should have mentioned I am in Scotland and the law just came into force today

[smurfchops]

Its the plastic bags, as they are not eco friendly, we should use paper instead, so no, you wont have to charge for paper bags. The government are trying to get people to re use their plastic bags and not keep throwing them away.

[THECORBYLOON]

The new law DOES cover paper bags (apart from small paper bags) and you will need to have a read of the legislation for what all the definitions mean, including the definition of a small paper bag and how they relate to you. The legislation is here, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2014/161/contents/made

[samthetam]

thanks I'll have a look at that

[in a mo]

The Law regarding comes into force next October in England ,with a charge of 5pence,I have never been to the USA but am I correct in saying that they use large Brown Paper Bags.I see the reduction in Wales has been incredible.