Plastic Bags

Post by **faceless** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:28 pm

[web]https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7268283.stm[/web]

What's taken them so long and why isn't there the law that Ireland has to make all shops charge? The idea that they're in the slightest bit interested in environmental concerns is laughable...

Post by **Skylace** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:09 pm

One thing I was saying just the other day was I thought it would be great if American stores had the reusable bags like they do in Britain. I brought a few back over from Tesco's from the last trip and use them here.

Now the local Giant Eagle's have bags for sale in the stores but they are so tiny and expensive I don't see the point. However, most stores in the States (at least the big ones I have been to) always have a place up front to recycle the bags.

I personally think reusing bags, recycling bags and getting nice canvas type bags is the best way to go. As a matter of fact if anyone wants to send me some more Tesco/Sainsbury's whoever reusable bags I would love it!

Lostinthestates · Post by **Lostinthestates** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:00 pm

I often go shopping at Aldi's over here and you don't get free bags there so I always take my cloth bag with me (just like in the UK or Germany). I think it's excellent even though obviously Aldi does it to keep the cost down, but I think whatever reason behind it as long as the outcome is beneficial I do not care!

Post by **eefanincan** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:51 pm

Those re-usable bags are extremely popular here at almost every store other than clothing stores. We've got tons of them, and I try to keep some in the car so that we always have them on hand for spur of the moment shopping trips.

Can send you a few if you like, Sky

Post by **Skylace** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:51 pm

eefanincan wrote:Those re-usable bags are extremely popular here at almost every store other than clothing stores. We've got tons of them, and I try to keep some in the car so that we always have them on hand for spur of the moment shopping trips.

Can send you a few if you like, Sky

Oh yes please!

Brown Sauce · Post by **Brown Sauce** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:26 pm

i think that they charge 20 cents here - germany - for a plastic bag. Cotton ones are I think 80, and last for years.

All beer is sold in mostly generic glass bottles, as is the water. No plastic bottles to speak of, and they got rid of the aluminium cans pretty well over night by putting a 25 cent deposit on 'em.

I'm always surprised by the amount of waste in the UK, plastic everywhere, at least it's something that they have in common with the French.

Post by **faceless** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:12 pm

that's great to hear about how they use generic bottles and no plastic. That alone must make a huge impact on the amount of energy wasted, and I don't suppose the corporations were in favour... all the better!

SpursFan1902 · Post by **SpursFan1902** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:46 pm

I haven't used plastic bags in several months. I had 20 or so canvas bags that my mother had pilfered from the local library (she was the head of the children's library) and I started using those to shop with. I used to reuse the plastic bags to clean the litter box and now I use paper bags. I just bought some litter today that is made from corn and is not only clumping but flushable, so I may do away with all of it if that works the way that is it advertised. The demonstration was postive...

I have a problem remembering to take the bags in, not so much in the grocery store anymore, but other shopping (Target for example). Just takes a little practice...

Just trying to do my part to lessen my carbon footprint...

Marcella-FL · Post by **Marcella-FL** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:56 am

gOOD LORD I AM ADDICTED TO CANVAS BAGS! Almost all stores here have started selling the re-useable bags for about a buck. My faves are from Home Depot (huge and clip on the side of shopping carts!) and of course my big damn IKEA bag you get at the store for 59 cents! If I forget my bags I just tell the baggers to just put it back in the cart unbagged. I always have the bags in the van.

Post by **eefanincan** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:22 am

Marcella-FL wrote:gOOD LORD I AM ADDICTED TO CANVAS BAGS! Almost all stores here have started selling the re-useable bags for about a buck. My faves are from Home Depot (huge and clip on the side of shopping carts!) and of course my big damn IKEA bag you get at the store for 59 cents! If I forget my bags I just tell the baggers to just put it back in the cart unbagged. I always have the bags in the van.

I'm always forgetting to put the bags back into the car when we're done with them

I ordered a nice canvas bag from Lands End the other day --- not cheap, but you can hold a ton of stuff in it and it'll never break --- I think it's made out of boat canvas.

Bat · Post by **Bat** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:35 am

Brown Sauce wrote:i think that they charge 20 cents here - germany - for a plastic bag. Cotton ones are I think 80, and last for years.

All beer is sold in mostly generic glass bottles, as is the water. No plastic bottles to speak of, and they got rid of the aluminium cans pretty well over night by putting a 25 cent deposit on 'em.

I'm always surprised by the amount of waste in the UK, plastic everywhere, at least it's something that they have in common with the French.

Last time I was in Germany, about 2 weeks ago they were using plastic bottles. But they were ALL reused and there was a deposit on them. You're right about the beer bottles though, they use the same one's (apart from one brewery - the biggest, who decided last year to change their design) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia so wherever the bottles end up they can be re-used by any brewery.

Post by **faceless** » Wed May 21, 2008 5:35 pm

I was just in my local Morrisson's and they've now removed all free bags from the checkouts - a small step but a good one. Now you have to pay for one of the reusable ones if you don't bring your own. I asked the checkout girl about how it's going down and it seems only a few people have complained - but as I pointed out to her, they don't give a fuck about the environment, so why should anyone care what they say... she smiled and agreed.

Twirley · Post by **Twirley** » Fri May 23, 2008 6:31 pm

Marcella-FL wrote:gOOD LORD I AM ADDICTED TO CANVAS BAGS! Almost all stores here have started selling the re-useable bags for about a buck. My faves are from Home Depot (huge and clip on the side of shopping carts!) and of course my big damn IKEA bag you get at the store for 59 cents! If I forget my bags I just tell the baggers to just put it back in the cart unbagged. I always have the bags in the van.

Marcella - I never thought of that. I try to keep my bags in the car but do sometimes forget to take them into the store. I guess you just bag up at the car. Good idea!

I think reusable bags are filtering through here in the Carolinas. They have them on sale now, but you still get funny looks from the cashiers when they ask you "paper or plastic" and you say "neither!" I'll help them get there though.

I'm proud of us Couchers - we are an environmentally aware lot!

pirtybirdy · Post by **pirtybirdy** » Fri May 23, 2008 6:38 pm

Except for me. I'll be the last one doing that whole "bringing my own bag" thing. I don't like it and don't want to be forced by the store to bring my own bag. I'm definitely not an enviromentalist. There has just got to be a better way than to force people to bring a bunch of bags from home to do a big shopping. A small shopping, yes....I can buy into bringing your own bags, but not for a whopping cartful. I know, I know......I'm in a minority here at the couch...lol!

Post by **faceless** » Sun May 25, 2008 12:16 pm

pirtybirdy wrote:There has just got to be a better way than to force people to bring a bunch of bags from home

Yes, the better way is for people to realise that they shouldn't have to be forced to look after their local area and the planet in general!