UK to start charging for plastic bags

Glaucus · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:22

thebennyboy said:
Most companies here in Wales give the proceeds of the bag charge to charity.

That's because they have to, it's a tax that goes to environmental projects.

thebennyboy · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:24

Glaucus said:
That's because they have to, it's a tax that goes to environmental projects.

In that case I don't get why people are complaining...

Cosimo · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:06

thebennyboy said:
First world problem with people moaning about a 5p bag charge.

Indeed, as they plan their next PC/xxxxx upgrade which last for less than a year and end up in landfill forever.

russell664 · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:25

Sirrel Squirrel said:
Just go to self checkout and lie when it asks you

Been doing it for years. Liv'in Tha Thug Life.

Geffen · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:28

Does anyone know if i would be charged with theft or tax evasion if i steel a bag?

jonneymendoza · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:36

EdwardTeach said:
leave them in the boot of your car.

What if you don't have a car?

Surveyor · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:48

Glaucus said:
That's because they have to, it's a tax that goes to environmental projects.

It's a charge, not a tax.

Retailers will be expected to donate the proceeds to good causes.

Carrier bag charges: retailers' responsibilities

russell664 · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:52

jonneymendoza said:
What if you don't have a car?

Then you get a car.

Cosimo · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:55

jonneymendoza said:
What if you don't have a car?

Put them all in a plastic bag in your cupboard.

jonneymendoza · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:58

Last night I saw load of people stocking up on bags,

ubersonic · 5 Oct 2015 at 09:07

Glaucus said:
That's because they have to

Nope, passing it on to environmental projects and good causes is just a recommendation, the is no actual requirement not to pocket the money, just a voluntary code of best practices (plus the threat of media/public backlash if you do pocket it lol).

Surveyor said:
Carrier bag charges: retailers' responsibilities

I love this bit:

There are no exemptions for biodegradable bags at present. However, the government is considering an exemption to encourage development of a new, genuinely biodegradable, more environmentally friendly bag. This would be introduced as an amendment at a later date.

Have they considered paper?

Haggisman · 5 Oct 2015 at 09:25

v0n said:
The 5p charge for the bag also oddly forms contract between me and the vendor. What's more there has to be warranty period provided for this product. If my 5p bag doesn't last long enough to carry my goods all the way home, I can go and demand replacement, because the product I purchased with my 5p wasn't fit for purpose.

I was wondering this as well...

So say I order an online shop, with bags

Am I then entitled to return the bags under CCR for a full refund?

Calabi · 5 Oct 2015 at 10:51

Surveyor said:
It's a charge, not a tax.

Retailers will be expected to donate the proceeds to good causes.

Carrier bag charges: retailers' responsibilities

But they are then taxed for that charge.

MooMoo444 · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:01

Man I really don't understand all the fuss over this charge. Lets say you do a shop once a week, and use three bags. Also say you use some other shops in that week, lets say three more shops using a bag each time.

That's only £1.20 a month spent on bags.

Why is there so much furore?

pickle1972 · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:04

MooMoo444 said:
Man I really don't understand all the fuss over this charge. Lets say you do a shop once a week, and use three bags. Also say you use some other shops in that week, lets say three more shops using a bag each time.

That's only £1.20 a month spent on bags.

Why is there so much furore?

I can only imagine what it was like when they brought the smoking ban in

Tefal · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:07

ubersonic said:
Have they considered paper?

its ridiculous that paper gets charged too

jonneymendoza · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:09

MooMoo444 said:
Man I really don't understand all the fuss over this charge. Lets say you do a shop once a week, and use three bags. Also say you use some other shops in that week, lets say three more shops using a bag each time.

That's only £1.20 a month spent on bags.

Why is there so much furore?

teh fuss is the quaity of teh bags. If u dont own a car either and have to take public transport after your weekly shopping, good luck making it back home without all your stuff dropping on the floor due to very terrible bags.

For me, i have to double up on some bags or even just put less items on one as they are very easy to rip.

AtaRo · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:10

I got a bunch of stuff at the corner shop today and they charge for the bag, I though small independent shops with less than 250 employees are exempt from the charge.

Ranger07 · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:17

To be fair we've had this for a while in Scotland and its really not that big a deal, almost everyone I know takes reusable bags shopping. On the odd occasion I forget I'll pay 5p.

As people have already mentioned the 'Bags for life' style of bag are much easier to pack and hold way more. You can get an entire shopping trolley load into 4-5 of them.

ubersonic · 5 Oct 2015 at 11:21

MooMoo444 said:
Why is there so much furore?

I'm not overly annoyed about it (NB: I live in Wales so have been living with it since 2011) it's just that it's £16-18 a year that I have to pay due to being disabled, and it gets paid by my disability living allowance which seems pretty stupid to me, surely it would be better to simply waive the tax for disabled customers who require bags...