Charge For Carrier Bags

[Georgiesmum]

I see all supermarkets in the uk are being forced to charge 5p for every carrier bag they give out from 2015. What are your thoughts on this?

[237SJ]

I think it`s quite a good idea as the money is supposed to be going to charity. Now, I`ll have to weigh up the price of 5p per carrier bag versus buying bin liners because that`s what I use them for.

[mallyh]

with the amount of shopping bags about i think it's a good idea to charge for carriers .

[Old_Geezer]

I think it's a blooming cheek and the government should keep their nose out of things that ought not concern them. If I wish to give to charity I am able to do so without being taxed to force it. I've not checked, is there a general election before 2015 ?

[Prudie]

Actually I totally agree, it will teach me to be more responsible with bags, I've got drawers and cupboards stuffed with plastic carriers I only use for rubbish rather than remembering to take out with me.

[Tilly2]

I think it's a very good idea. There are enough carrier bags littering the streets. I always take my own bags when I go shopping. It's not difficult to do.

[Dee Sa]

its just more profit for the supermarkets of course they are going to encourage this.

[Prudie]

Of course the supermarkets and charities are on to a winner but the biggest winner will be the environment.

[Georgiesmum]

We always use the bags for life and take them every week when we do our weekly shop.
"Normal carrier bags" i get from one of my friends who gets loads of them and i re-use them for the dustbin.

[B00]

Brilliant idea, just wish it was happening before 2015.

[jomifl]

We have a friend who is local secretary of 'FoE', He and his wife always use the free bags from Tesco because they never remember to take their own shopping bags. Some people are just sloppy because they can get away with it and can't be @rsed to think.

[237SJ]

The trouble with those canvas bags for life is that they can be a great harbour for bacteria from the leaky outside of packaged meat. I throw mine away every now and again for that reason.

[factor-fiction]

It's about time this was introduced. I often see shoppers taking a dozen bags and wonder where they all go. I'm sure most people just put them in the normal bins rather than reusing or recycling them. Since some shops started charging for bags (Aldi?) I've started making sure I always take my own bags.

[factor-fiction]

And why should bags ever have been free. But i suppose they weren't - the costs were included in prices. SO maybe food costs will come down ever so slightly?

[Svejk]

We've had these charges a long time in Wales. I used to be of OG's opinion but it makes sense to me now. Never go to shop without sticking a bag in my pocket (even go back if I forget)
Its not about money, its a principle thing.
Looking back, it was just silly using bags for the sake of it. Eg. Putting newspaper in bag. Using several bags for different types of goods.

[Canary42]

I remember when supermarkets first introduced bags, and they charged for them then (prior to that they would stack a pile of empty used cardboard boxes by the checkouts for the use of customers without a shopping bag). Then "competition' made them stop charging for bags. I noticed one supermarket had returned to the box option recently.

[tiggerblue10]

I always take loads of Iceland bags shopping with me so I don't need to use supermarkets own bags. they are quite big. My parents have the big non-canvas "bag for life" bags from Sainsbury's. They are easily washable. Once my Iceland bags become unusable I'll get some of those.

I've still got loads of plastic bags but they will be used as bin bags until they run out.

[Tilly2]

I use carrier bags as bin bags and empty the rubbish into the outside bin. I then put the carrier bag into the recycle bin.

[tiggerblue10]

I had some carrier bags which sat in the bottom of a bag holder for years and when I went to pick them out they disintegrated.

[kendra20]

In Wales we have been paying for carrier bags for a couple of years and I must say it has reduced the amount of bags being thrown away, people reuse them. We have all got into the habit of taking our own bags to supermarket and I always have a couple of bags in the car.

[Georgiesmum]

Our charity shops are always asking for carrier bags. They can never get enough.