K wrote:
Janet Baraclough writes

I don't dispute it worked, only (Sue's claim) that UK supermarkets
will take no action unless forced: they already do take action.

They haven't taken the critical action of withdrawing the free plastic
bags.

It's not a supermarket, but I'd like to draw attention to B&Q, which
withdrew free plastic bags over a year ago – mainly as a cost saving but
also for the environmental benefits. I've noted on recent visits that
the lack of bags doesn't appear to bother people. I was also in
Homebase today and they didn't offer me a bag (for my one small item)
either.

Rhiannon

On Sat, 06 May 2006 21:42:02 +0100, Rhiannon Macfie Miller
wrote:

It's not a supermarket, but I'd like to draw attention to B&Q, which
withdrew free plastic bags over a year ago – mainly as a cost saving but
also for the environmental benefits. I've noted on recent visits that
the lack of bags doesn't appear to bother people. I was also in
Homebase today and they didn't offer me a bag (for my one small item)
either.

Which is all jolly lovely if you happen to have turned up in your car
and you can push your purchases on a trolley to load up. Not providing
bags other than those of thimble size is hopeless for people who may be
walking, cycling or taking public transport (the more environmentally
friendly forms of transport) who need something convenient to carry
their purchases home in. And yes if it was a planned visit you might
take a bag with you but their policy does not work if the visit is an
impromptu one.

Something tells me they have their environmental priorities back to
front if they continue to locate themselves in places best served by
cars but then ration plastic bags for those people who have legitimate
need of them.
--
Paul C

Paul Corfield wrote:
On Sat, 06 May 2006 21:42:02 +0100, Rhiannon Macfie Miller
wrote:

It's not a supermarket, but I'd like to draw attention to B&Q, which
withdrew free plastic bags over a year ago – mainly as a cost saving but
also for the environmental benefits. I've noted on recent visits that
the lack of bags doesn't appear to bother people. I was also in
Homebase today and they didn't offer me a bag (for my one small item)
either.

Which is all jolly lovely if you happen to have turned up in your car
and you can push your purchases on a trolley to load up. Not providing
bags other than those of thimble size is hopeless for people who may be
walking, cycling or taking public transport (the more environmentally
friendly forms of transport) who need something convenient to carry
their purchases home in.

As one who has done quite a bit of shopping by bike in the past, I can
say that plastic bags are not the easiest of carriers to use on a bike.
Most people who cycle regularly will have a rucksack or panniers.

(Actually, my local B&Q has put up a wire bin by the door which is full
of bags from other shops, presumably brought there by customers. It's
good because there is a dearth of facilities to recycle placcies around
here.)

Rhiannon

On Sun, 07 May 2006 14:18:50 +0100, Rhiannon Macfie Miller
wrote:

[non polluting transport to and from B&Q]

As one who has done quite a bit of shopping by bike in the past, I can
say that plastic bags are not the easiest of carriers to use on a bike.
Most people who cycle regularly will have a rucksack or panniers.

Agreed - panniers are the more effective solution. I think garden
related transport via rucksack might be a tad difficult.

--
Paul C

Paul Corfield writes
On Sat, 06 May 2006 21:42:02 +0100, Rhiannon Macfie Miller
wrote:

It's not a supermarket, but I'd like to draw attention to B&Q, which
withdrew free plastic bags over a year ago – mainly as a cost saving but
also for the environmental benefits. I've noted on recent visits that
the lack of bags doesn't appear to bother people. I was also in
Homebase today and they didn't offer me a bag (for my one small item)
either.

Which is all jolly lovely if you happen to have turned up in your car
and you can push your purchases on a trolley to load up. Not providing
bags other than those of thimble size is hopeless for people who may be
walking, cycling or taking public transport (the more environmentally
friendly forms of transport) who need something convenient to carry
their purchases home in. And yes if it was a planned visit you might
take a bag with you but their policy does not work if the visit is an
impromptu one.


A small charge (say 10p) would be a deterrent to picking up half a dozen
plastic bags with your weekly shop, and might be enough persuade you to
tuck a bag in your pocket on a planned shop, but won't break the bank if
you finding yourself needing to make an unplanned purchase.
--
Kay

On Sun, 7 May 2006 14:22:43 +0100, K wrote:

Paul Corfield writes
On Sat, 06 May 2006 21:42:02 +0100, Rhiannon Macfie Miller
wrote:

It's not a supermarket, but I'd like to draw attention to B&Q, which
withdrew free plastic bags over a year ago – mainly as a cost saving but
also for the environmental benefits. I've noted on recent visits that
the lack of bags doesn't appear to bother people. I was also in
Homebase today and they didn't offer me a bag (for my one small item)
either.

Which is all jolly lovely if you happen to have turned up in your car
and you can push your purchases on a trolley to load up. Not providing
bags other than those of thimble size is hopeless for people who may be
walking, cycling or taking public transport (the more environmentally
friendly forms of transport) who need something convenient to carry
their purchases home in. And yes if it was a planned visit you might
take a bag with you but their policy does not work if the visit is an
impromptu one.


A small charge (say 10p) would be a deterrent to picking up half a dozen
plastic bags with your weekly shop, and might be enough persuade you to
tuck a bag in your pocket on a planned shop, but won't break the bank if
you finding yourself needing to make an unplanned purchase.

The charge would be fine if the bags were sufficiently strong not to
deteriorate before you get your purchases home. I have two "bags for
life" which normally cope with the weekly shop and get reused each week
as they are up to the task. There is no point in keeping a normal
supermarket or B&Q carrier bag because they are flimsy and drop to bits
and cannot be reused. A charge for something useless would be wrong IMO.
--
Paul C

Paul Corfield writes


The charge would be fine if the bags were sufficiently strong not to
deteriorate before you get your purchases home. I have two "bags for
life" which normally cope with the weekly shop and get reused each week
as they are up to the task. There is no point in keeping a normal
supermarket or B&Q carrier bag because they are flimsy and drop to bits
and cannot be reused. A charge for something useless would be wrong IMO.

They're not useless. They get your shopping home. And IME they can be
reused a few times.
--
Kay