to think a new law to ban plastic bags is absurd given how much other packaging there is?

[bunchoffives]

When I look in my recycling bin - which is huge - it's full of cardboard sleeves, plastic trays, plastic shrink wrap, plastic bottles, some glass, boxes that had plastic bags in them of sugar, boxes with individually wrapped cakes stock cubes etc etc etc.

In other words I pay council tax every month to take away the packaging food manufacturers have already charged me for (in the cost of the food) to help sell me their products.

AIBU to ask why doesn't Shiny Dave pass a law getting manufacturers and supermarkets to reduce packaging before fussing about the comparatively lesser issue of plastic bags?

joules surely the problem with children standing in trolloeys isn't about dog poo contaminating food? Surely it's because in the last few weeks, and especially over half term, I had to deal, as a first aider with several head injuries sustained by children falling out of the trolley they were standing in?

People are more likely to reuse carrier bags than most of the wasteful packaging that we get

Yes, I always re use my bags for rubbish at home...rather than buy black plastic bags.

So now I will be buying more black plastic bags

CorusKate Good packaging reduces waste and can be better for the environment

Do you work in the food packaging by any chance?

I'm old enough to remember buying fruit & veg from a greengrocers that stored their produce in reused wooden crates, and we took stuff home in a brown paper bags. It was fine. No problems. And less waste

I just think it's crazy to be passing a law to deal with this issue while ignoring the masses of other unnecessary waste generated by the food/toy/white goods etc industries

I totally agree....

Its a side issue, sanctimonious, we are doing something we are helping the planet by buying a plastic bag, whilst, a ton of packaging rubbish is going down the conveyor belt, I bet supermarkets are laughing all the way to the bank!

We think we are saving the planet, they keep on packaging with loads of rubbish, and we all feel great.

Then it all ends up on a huge pile in India.

I'm old enough to remember buying fruit & veg from a greengrocers that stored their produce in reused wooden crates, and we took stuff home in a brown paper bags. It was fine. No problems. And less waste

^^ YY.

I'm in Germany, where you don't get free bags and haven't done for about a zillion years. They are also very into their recycling here.
What used to surprise me is how many people use baskets for shopping - I'm talking about proper old-fashioned reed-type woven baskets, and by people I mean men and women, young and old.
I used to laugh at the idea of it, but now (after a good long time here) it's second nature to grab my basket when going shopping. I find it really practical and much prefer it to any plastic bag.
I also use those jute bags that you could buy in Tesco and Sainsbury's, they are good and sturdy and last for ages too.
Anyway, YABU OP because it is definitely a step in the right direction.

I'm talking about proper old-fashioned reed-type woven baskets, and by people I mean men and women, young and old.

men? with baskets? sacre bleu

They're not being banned.

I couldn't believe it wasn't just old ladies! :D

YANBU but they are not being banned afaik, it's just being given for free that is being banned. So who is going to pay for these bags? Us when we forget our bags or us when we call into a shop without planning. This is a token gesture that will be a drop in the ocean but paid for by us.

capt the thread in question focused on kids dirty shoes on trollies. If they end up in A&E that's the parents fault. My kids got through childhood without being plonked inside a trolley, there's no need IMO.

Companies spend a lot of time and research on the optimal packaging to protect products and reduce cost - large companies have very little unnecessary packaging

I remember buying fruit and veg from a greengrocer too and it was pretty awful. Less of it was freighted from the opposite side of the world, too. Items shipped from China or South Africa or Peru are going to need well-designed and adequate packaging to survive the journey

I am sorry but stuff was crated from all over! And it was fine! And it wasnt horrible at all

I think it's a good thing, so YABU.

Am I the only one incredulous at the Fail claiming its a victory their campaigning has brought about?

On the packaging thing, they were saying that actually we are recycling slightly less partly as a result of reduced packaging over recent years.

YANBU. I do think they should be taxed, but I agree with you that the amount of packaging that arrives in the average Amazon order, for example, should be done away with.

Coruskate, it is well worth their while using more packaging than necessary if they sell more of their product.

On the wider point, I tend to think that this sort of legislation acts as a sop to make people think 'we are doing our bit' when it really is very minor in terms of how much waste we produce.