Placcy bags

[Slug]

[QUOTE=IanP;32180] Carriers (and the ridiculous amout of packaging on products in general) are an excellent example of something that it ought to be easy to do somethng about (i.e. Ireland where they now charge for carriers and the number of new ones handed out each year has plummeted) but which government and big business seem entirely unwilling to act upon.

QUOTE]

In Ireland, it's not just that they charge for the carriers - after all they're only the equivalent of about 10p so it's not going to stop the 'hardened' carrier bag user. It's also the fact that it's actively discouraged to use carrier bags for environmental reasons.

They sell lots of different fabric bags that last forever - and I've even got a fold up one which sits nicely in my handbag - it means I can do my greenie bit without lugging a big shopping bag with me all the time (it's like being in the brownies again.... always being prepared!).

I also notice that in England there is a huge abundance of plastic carriers at the end of the till - whereas in Ireland you have to ask for one. It makes a big difference to the number of bags people take....

Anyway, rant over - I think it's great that you and others Snadger are recycling carriers in your own way. I just wish the supermarkets (and the government) in the UK would follow from the lead that Ireland has taken and reduce it's carrier bag waste once and for all!

Slug

[dexterdoglancashire]

You've made some very good points there Slug - maybe if the supermarkets did like yours ie. don't have the bags at the end of the till and we had to ask may make a difference, as with you. It seems a small thing to do, but aren't the simplest of ideas always the best? DDL

[Petuaria Pete]

Hi all. My first post, although I have been lurking around for a while.

My local charity shop are always looking for uses carrier bags, so mine go there.

Plus it gives me a chance to see if they have any cheap gardening/cookery books.

PP

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi PP - welcome to the Vine! As you can see we are a very friendly lot - please keep logging on and letting us have your thoughts and ideas! Actually, I'd forgotten about my local charity shop (oops! ) will have a word and see if they need any. Thanks dexterdoglancashire

[bramble]

My tip is:- Save all your plastic bags for the lottie! Take a bag full of them as its surprising how many you need, especially just now when everthings coming to fru-ition
It means you can bring home your veg in a bag of there own and keep them as-dug. I came home with four bags today, french beans,Carrots & Tatties,Courgettes & Cucumbers, Cauli's.
If I had to cram them all in one bag there would have been a right mess! And I refuse to carry a trug!!!
I also use a bag to kneel on while picking low growing crops to keep my jeans clean!
I'll probably get grief from the 'Bag for life' brigade but bags can be re-used!

I put a cushion inside two plastic bags and tie them together, makes a nice kneeler when planting and keeps the cushion cleen.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Another good idea bramble! Guess what I'm going to do now? DDL

[NOG]

Supermarket plastic bags are great. We use them instread of buying bin liners then the extra one are taken to the allotment shop and then use them for purchases.

[roitelet]

The French are having a war against carrier bags I hate the things!!!!!!! All the super markets are no longer giving away carrier bags but are selling very good large shopping bags, cheaply, which are replaced when worn out. I have got into the habit of always keeping the shopping bags in the car and loading the shopping from the trolley into them in the car park. When I was in the UK I go some very fully looks when I refused Carrier Bags. Also why should I do the shops advertising for them?

[Waffler]

Supermarkets should give incentives to encourage people to re-use carrier bags. I'm guilty of it myself, and although I keep the bags and use them for other stuff or return them to the supermarket for recycling, I don't actually re-use them as shopping bags.
I know Tesco were offering clubcard points (don't know if they still do) and Sainsbury's USED TO give a penny back for each bag re-used, but I really think they should be doing more.

[mazel-bee]

Quite right. I have not had a plastic carrier bag for a couple of years now. Dreadful things!! Cotton bags are perfect. Clogging up the planet and killing poor turtles, ooooh don't get me started!!

[Alison]

You're riight about getting funny looks when you don't want their plastic bags - try to avoid supermakets but if I have to go I always take my own bags and use them - they're far sturdier, much easier to carry and stand up better in the car. Bought some good ones at a cooperative place in S Manchester a few years ago and they're still going strong. However, if you do get some it does seem to make sense to re-use them a few times as people have said above.

[rustylady]

My tip is:- Save all your plastic bags for the lottie! Take a bag full of them as its surprising how many you need, especially just now when everthings coming to fru-ition
It means you can bring home your veg in a bag of there own and keep them as-dug. I came home with four bags today, french beans,Carrots & Tatties,Courgettes & Cucumbers, Cauli's.
If I had to cram them all in one bag there would have been a right mess! And I refuse to carry a trug!!!
I also use a bag to kneel on while picking low growing crops to keep my jeans clean!
I'll probably get grief from the 'Bag for life' brigade but bags can be re-used!

What's wrong with a trug Snadger? I got a really cool one from Aldi for £1.99. They are actually very good, if you use plastic carrier bags your stuff gets squashed. Trugs mean you have a broader base to lay things on. I do still use placcy bags

[rustylady]

Supermarkets should give incentives to encourage people to re-use carrier bags. I'm guilty of it myself, and although I keep the bags and use them for other stuff or return them to the supermarket for recycling, I don't actually re-use them as shopping bags.
I know Tesco were offering clubcard points (don't know if they still do) and Sainsbury's USED TO give a penny back for each bag re-used, but I really think they should be doing more.

Tesco offer green clubcard points if you use your own bag or re-use carriers. However I've found that the cashiers need to be reminded!!!!! They don't ask if you want one of their carriers, and they don't tell you that you get extra points if you don't use one of their bags - Sneaky!!

[Earthbabe]

What's wrong with a trug Snadger? I got a really cool one from Aldi for £1.99. They are actually very good, if you use plastic carrier bags your stuff gets squashed. Trugs mean you have a broader base to lay things on. I do still use placcy bags

I quite agree RL I have one on my christmas list for harvesting etc. I'm fed up of trying to stuff things into bags and then find them again when I get them home. Plus it is a nice place to keep things while they sit in the kitchen.

[Sunbeam]

we always try t pick up the cardboard boxes they put out instead of the placcie bags, however when they aren't available I re-use them for binbags - KWIKSAVE (whatever happened to them?) used to give you a penny off your shopping if you didn't use their bags & would charge you for the m if you did1