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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have not noticed about the 5p carrier bag charge?

400 replies

Snoozebox · 15/09/2015 19:30

I feel it was sprung upon us! When was it officially agreed by government?

I was in Tesco today and saw the signs that from sometime next month it will be enforced.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with the charge and have heard about it being discussed for years, but I didn't know it had been made mandatory! The cashier looked at me pityingly when I queried it and said it has been all over This Morning the media for weeks. Have I been too distracted by Jeremy Corbyn's lovely visage to notice this?

OP posts:
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LittleMissStubborn · 15/09/2015 19:35

You are not alone, I had a similar conversation at work.

I have no idea how I found our, If its urgent yes.

It's a combination of small bits of info I'd imagine plus research after unwittingly getting caught out in Scotland at Easter

LittleMissStubborn · 15/09/2015 19:36

Sorry for the random 'if it's urgent' my phone does random things sometimes.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:39

I'd like proof that the money goes to something else myself! I dont believe it.

gamerchick · 15/09/2015 19:39

I've known for ages. Confused

5p is too cheap imo.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:40

Why does everything fall on the consumer?

LarrytheCucumber · 15/09/2015 19:40

I knew, so it must have been in the news but maybe it was a while ago and as it clearly isn't as gripping as the Labour leadership contest it would be easy to forget Grin
I asked the girl in Tesco if the bags would be plain as we shouldn't pay 5p to advertise Tesco and she gave me a blank look. They obviously assume we still want to go on displaying brand loyalty even though we've paid for it.
She said she thought the money would go to charity.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:40

The supermarkets should pay for this not us. If we do then get their damn logos off them then and make them plain!

SmugairleRoin · 15/09/2015 19:42

I'm all for it - we introduced it (Ireland) and since then there's been notably less plastic bags decorating the local trees. I think the having to pay stops people just tossing them away.

Scholes34 · 15/09/2015 19:43

Is it really a big deal? I think we were paying 3p per plastic bag when I first moved to London 25 years ago, and then they were free and we had more plastic bags at home than we knew what to do with. I've always got a Bag for Life in my handbag for the daily shopping on the way home from work and a heap of more durable bags for a larger shop. Happy to pay 5p if I need to, but you don't need to pay it if you're organised. How many people routinely buy bags in Aldi?

CharleyDavidson · 15/09/2015 19:44

It's been compulsory in Wales for 4 years now. The companies aren't told what they should do with the profit made on the sale of the 5p (or more) bags, but it is expected that they will donate some or all of it to charities.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:44

Supermarkets should be made to pay not us.

ConferencePear · 15/09/2015 19:45

I've just spent six months in France where they don't even have plastic bags to sell. It's surprising how quickly you learn to take a bag with you.

LittleMissStubborn · 15/09/2015 19:46

I remember KwikSave charging for bags many years ago.

plus they had some strange plastic door things to get in and out the chilled area

cashewnutty · 15/09/2015 19:46

It happened in Scotland a while back. You get used to taking bags to the supermarket/shops with you. It is fine.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:48

Why should I pay to advertise their company?
Why should I pay to carry their good out of their shop?
Why should I walk around with "bags for life" constantly?

I pop in sometimes and buy a few items.... no I should not pay 5p for a carrier bag at all.

StarlingMurmuration · 15/09/2015 19:48

I'm fine with paying, but I hope the bags are a bit better quality than the major supermarkets' bog-standard ones. M&S 5p bags are noticeably larger and stronger so much better to re-use, the thin Tesco ones are always splitting.

LittleRedSparkle · 15/09/2015 19:48

turn it inside out if you have to buy one

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/09/2015 19:50

I have to say I knew last year that it was coming in this year. I must have hundreds stored away, which I'm about to start reusing once they start charging.

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:50

Id love to leave my shopping at the end of the conveyor belt and ask a member of staff to bring them to my car due to not wanting to pay for carrier bags. Bloody cheek!

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:51

Its about the consumer yet again being stung. Do you not understand this?

CurlsLDN · 15/09/2015 19:51

To those saying the companies should pay - who do you think has been paying for the bags so far?
I believe the aim of it is to encourage us ro use less bags, and be more environmentally friendly. How would that work if the companies (continued to) pay for them?

LittleMissStubborn · 15/09/2015 19:52

I have been carrying small fold up bags in my handbag for years, just make sure you have one in there. My problem is that I uae them and they don't always go back in my handbag.

I know I will end up buying bags, and it will be annoying that I have to find alternative things for what I reused my carrier bags for but I am currently stockpiling some and will work that out later.

TheMenagerie · 15/09/2015 19:52

I think it's a great idea to charge for them (although I am rarely organised enough to have a bag on me; need to keep them in the car now). My only grumble is that now I'll actually have to pay for bin bags...my current bin is a carrier bag on a hook!

MissFitt68 · 15/09/2015 19:53

Oh juju get over yourself! Like its the staffs fault!?

Everyone in Wales got used to it pretty quickly

JuJuMun69 · 15/09/2015 19:53

Be more environmentally friendly? then its up to the supermarkets to send their shopping out in something else surely! Its their problem not ours.