to really resent paying for plastic bags for food

[mumsfretter]

I am probably BU.

I just think that M&S charging for plastic bags for food (not clothes) is utterly ridiculous. I usually use my bag for life but occasionally need to run in for some items on my way home from somewhere. On these occasions I need a plastic bag (which I would use again) and resent paying for it. If I was buying a pair of socks on the other side of the store I would get a free one but for food I don't. And don't get me started on how much packaging they use themselves, so it's hardly a green thing.

I realise there are more important things to get annoyed about but AIBU to resent paying for plastic bags.

If you've ever litter picked for a job, you'd have no problem at all with making people pay for plastic bags! Personally, I wish they'd ban them altogether and force people to use proper bag! :)

It's so irritating. The charge is so small that It isn't a deterrent. It narks me so much i sometimes just get extra bags to make a point. Yesi am childish and quite possibly cutting off my nose to spite my face!

Jute bags are green for the pure fact that you can use them for years and they stop you buying plastic bags all the time. Other than that- how are they actually made?

(imagines empty fields of "Jute" razed to the ground).

M&S are committed to being green so you are wrong there.

I have a bag that I paid £2.99 and it folds into itself and ends uo slightly bigger than an egg. It lives in my handbag for those unplanned trips. When I do a full shop the bags go back in front of the front door so that next time I go out I can't get out without seeing them and putting them back in the boot.

It really isn't difficult to make sure you have bags and then you don't have to pay for a plastic bag. If you hate paying for plastic bags and you need a bag, buy a fabric one!

londonone- you really are cutting off your nose to spite your face. It's about the environment, not some faceless conglomerate. the 5p/10p has to go to charity in Wales and Ireland, so nobody minds.

Everyone I know takes bags, it's not even a hardship.

If it really is about the environment then they really need to make it 50 p a bad not 5 p!

I carry a fold up bag in my handbag but it isn't always enough and I rarely have bags on me when doing a big supermarket shop, my fault, I know I am not properly organised.

I can't swear to this but I was told that Lakeland Plastics had tried charging for bags but felt it was not popular with customers so brought in a system where there was no charge for bags but donations were made to charity by the company every time you didn't have one. It was apparently more successful. Carrots often work better than sticks.

Youoldslag
Nobody was saying you waste them OP, but you did complain that M and S sell them in double packs, which is no good for you. So don't buy them!

Yes, halloweenyqueeny did say that I waste them.

That's for the tip not to buy them I don't

Tesco used to give you a clubcard point every time you brought your own, but that was before the bag legislation came in in Wales.

londoneone- 50p a bag! That would be too much to sustain. Imagine some poor pensioner having to fork out £2.50 on top of a big shop. You and your fancy London ways!

That's what I mean, then it would have an impact. People will remember for £2.50 but they won't for 25p

Also if you can afford 5 bags of m and s food you can afford £2.50!

youoldslag
"If you find so much fault with M and S, go elsewhere, where they sell green beans in different quantities!"

The green bean thing at M&S was an example of ALL supermarkets packaging food in portions larger than many people want in order to sell more.

It's NOT about M&S or green beans in particular!

londoneone- we are not talking about M and S, but carrier bags in general. In Wales we pay for all bags everywhere or take our own. they cost 5p or 10p for a bag for Life or you can upgrade to a posh reusable one for 38p in Asda!

Also if you can afford 5 bags of m and s food you can afford £2.50!

londonone the idea is to get people to think about their bag usage and change their habits, not to punish people who forget one.

you're only cutting your nose off despite your face

O/T but this made me

I have no problems paying for plastic bags, in the long run it should make a difference to the environment.

Sorry I have been lazy and not read the whole thread. As you suspected, OP, you are BU. If you have another way of carrying your shopping, there is no charge. If you need to use a plastic bag (and thus damage the environment) then you pay a tiny amount.

And thank you for doing so. I've just seen that the lovely local kids play park where I live, which aims to get kids out and using a set of largely recycled facilities, has been paid for partially by M&S bag money.

Oh and I would be happy to pay for plastic bags for clothing too. You're right OP that it is not very consistent (have now managed to read some of the thread).

I suspect M&S have introduced the pay-for bags in an area where people are getting more used to bringing their own bags (food) but it may spread to clothing in future.