Carrier Bags

[Matheous]

Why don't the Supermarket giants get together on the issue of reducing waste eg. plastic carrier bags in particular. To my thinking it would be very simple to make a drastic reduction of these unsightly bags almost overnight. At the moment ASDA charge 70p? for the fabric vastly superior re-usable bags and nothing for carriers. Why not charge 30- or even 40p for carriers and I'm sure people would drop them like hot potatoes. They are the scourge of the Earth.

[jeanette1976]

I totally agree.... what really annoys me is when i buy meat or fish from Morrisons, they wrap the meat pack in another wrapper when scanning it through the till.... why? I have no idea... but I always tell them not to bother..... I'm sure you could do something about it... maybe write to the head of the chain or to an environment friendly organisation... Greenpeace, perhaps? Either way, definately something to look into... X

[Bev2007]

They won't do it for the same reason that the Government will not double the price of cigarettes (even though they apparently want us all to give up and presumably live forever) - it makes you unpopular.

If you are Asda and start charging for carrier bags, your average customer will get the hump and go to Sainsburys, Morrisons or Tesco. When Asda's sare price has slumped and they have lost 15% market share the fact that they are morally in the right is cold comfort.

So why dont they club together and all decide to do it at the same time? Well, I expect:
a) there is big money at stake so do you really trust your competitor, and
b) disgruntled shoppers complain to their MPs and media who wake up the Competition Commission who will decide that the supermarkets have unfairly colluded to rip off the general public.

This is the basic environmental problem - people are lazy, hypocritical consumerists and I include myself in that broad brush!

[Keeprockin]

Some already charge,but I agree with last suggestion,all Supermarkets charge the same,Say,10p a bag and that would hopefully encourage people back to the old shopping bags.

[lafrancaise]

Just thought I'd tell you that the 'Leclerc' hypermarkets and supermarkets in France, don't supply free plastic bags but you can pay about 30� for a carrier and when it's starting to look rough exchange it for a new one free of charge. Good idea. Occasional shoppers get caught out ... especially foreigners!

[bookermel]

Most shops in Ireland now charge for plastic carriers, although it is a bit of a pain when you forget (I tend to cos I live in UK and only visit now!) I t has however made a hugh difference to the amount of litter a great decrease in plastic in the wind! Some of the stores have introduced free paper bags for some goods!

[BBWCHATT]

Perhaps you could get them to pay people a few pennies - or a small discount if them bring them back in for recycling.

[BBWCHATT]

Sorry "they" bring them back. Brain dead today:)

[simsfreq]

Tescos are giving clubcard points out for every bag you re-use, but I don't know how many people realistically use this option.

I heard a debate about this a while ago on Radio 2 - it would be interesting if anybosdy has a link or the transcript, to read.

[Astret]

Two answers to this I have seen about:
1) get your local green party involved, our local shops have picked up the "green" branding and charge 1p per bag.
2) the co-op some time ago introduced biodegradable carrier bags, made of some sort of paper, but was just like your normal carrier bag. Having tested it though (left it in some moving boxes for three months), it does slowly disintegrate into little papery shreds, so you could put it in the compost heap!
3) if this is too complicated, how about standard brown paper bags for small purchases? maybe with little carrier holes? They break down better/are more easily recyclable than plastic...

[VINNY100_2]

In the fifties and early sixties,there was no such thing as a plastic carrier bag.everybody used to carry there own shopping bag.in fact,my mum used the same one for years. Paper carrier bags with string handles were used and normally charged for from local shops. (:o)

[Figi]

I have been in different supermarket chains in France recently and none of them supply free plastic bags. Result - all the locals come armed with proper shopping bags. It's sooooo simple. Sometimes I feel I'm fighting the plastic bag mountain single handed. The other day I bought an item of underwear which was already in a plastic bag in Tesco - at the checkout, the girl put in in another plastic bag!! I gave it back to her........

[jessiedog]

Tesco do give points for not using them. 1 point for each standard bag, 2 points for larger bag if FULL, 1 or 2 points for boxes, no bags at all up to 10 points for a large trolley load, and even no bags at all for a couple of items carried by hand gets 1 point. You may need to remind the cashier to give them to you though.

I have just had my quarterly points vouchers that include 76 points (76 pence) so that will equal �3.50 - �4.00 per year.