if my memory serves me correctly, we tried this a few years ago when some supermarkets sold bags at about 3p but the response from the public was negative, largely due to the fact that the supermarkets didn't give any alternatives.

for me it seems as if the government needs to incentivise supermarkets (possibly through fines as I can't think of a way to incentivise them positively) for each carrier bag they sell.

They should be encouraged to promote environmentally friendly bags by the checkouts (currently i have only really seen tescos do this properly with a variation in cloth / paper bags). All profits on these bags should be collected by the government for investment in further recyling initiatives.

The problem with this idea is that the government is gutless and has no willingness to challenge big business as they have shown in the Waste Strategy from May 2007 where citizens were targeted yet big business got away with just offering a verbal promise!! until the government changes its stance then i can't see this or any other proposal working extensively

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for me it seems as if the government needs to incentivise supermarkets (possibly through fines as I can't think of a way to incentivise them positively) for each carrier bag they sell.

But that's the heart of the problem... the supermarkets don't sell them, they give them away It's down to consumers to take the lead and sort out their own baggage (if you'll pardon the pun!) If ALL supermarkets and shops stopped distributing bags, people would have to change, since there would be no alternatives where they could shop. We should not pander to the most terminally lazy element of our society, otherwise we'll never get anywhere!

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Originally posted by vxpert:

quote:

for me it seems as if the government needs to incentivise supermarkets (possibly through fines as I can't think of a way to incentivise them positively) for each carrier bag they sell.

But that's the heart of the problem... the supermarkets don't sell them, they give them away It's down to consumers to take the lead and sort out their own baggage (if you'll pardon the pun!) If ALL supermarkets and shops stopped distributing bags, people would have to change, since there would be no alternatives where they could shop. We should not pander to the most terminally lazy element of our society, otherwise we'll never get anywhere!

Couldn't agree with you more!!! I still don't understand why it hasn't been done in the UK. We do have Tesco here and they sell the reusable shopping bags at the checkout the same as all the other supermarkets, so why can't they do it in the UK??

If the government don't act, maybe people should petition Tesco or whatever large chain over there to take the lead on this issue!!!

I don't know if fines is the way or not, personally, I think it just needs clear and precise goals. There's a lot of "muddled" messages and scheme all over the place....some clarity is required I believe.

quote:

Originally posted by vxpert:

quote:

for me it seems as if the government needs to incentivise supermarkets (possibly through fines as I can't think of a way to incentivise them positively) for each carrier bag they sell.

But that's the heart of the problem... the supermarkets don't sell them, they give them away It's down to consumers to take the lead and sort out their own baggage (if you'll pardon the pun!) If ALL supermarkets and shops stopped distributing bags, people would have to change, since there would be no alternatives where they could shop. We should not pander to the most terminally lazy element of our society, otherwise we'll never get anywhere!

i know they don't sell them but they should be forced to by the government, there should be a national charge that should be paid to defra for treatment of any plastic bags or research into renewables and other environmental research.

this should be paid by the supermarket irrelevant of how many bags they give away, say 15p per carrier bag, this then incentivises the supermarket to charge the customer.

they should also be encouraged to stock reusable bags, so far i have only seen tesco actively trying to sell these, other supermarkets hide them away possibly because it costs them more to produce.

the supermarkets should be allowed to cover their costs of the production of these bags but all profits should go to defra too, hence it will be costing in at a loss for the supermarket to produce carrier bags (as production costs would not be covered just the fee to defra) whereas reusables will be cost-neutral.

the emphasis should always go back to the supplier as its clear that banking on the customer doesnt work

I use the recycleable plastic 'bags for life' carrier bags that the supermarkets sale and keep one with me when i go out.

It cost 10p and Waitrose replace and recycle it for free when it wears out. I use it for all shopping and refuse any bags that other shops try and give me.

I mean if you bought something in 5 different shops, unless you refused the bags, you would easily end up with 5 different bags with one product in each!
I have seen this, with people carrying lots of bags with just a few items in each.

I used to see this bloke around town with about 5 supermarket carrier bags and just a few items in each. I used to call him the 'bag man', but recently i noticed he has got himself a permanent sturdy looking shopping bag. IMO the older generation are used to sturdy shopping bags, they are generally going back to their old habits.

I think a better idea would be for the Government to impose a charge on disposable plastic bags, which is equal to or even greater than the cost of a reusable bag.

Come to think of it, that generalises and scales well: a system of taxes and subsidies should be used to ensure that disposable goods never cost less than reusable goods that perform the same purpose. A paper tissue should not cost less than a cotton handkerchief, a set of batteries should not cost less that a universal mains adaptor, a disposable nappy should not cost less than a terry nappy, and so on.