People still buying bags when shopping

[Auburngal]

It's 8.5 years since the bag charges were introduced in England (Oct 4 2015) and longer for other parts of the UK. My friend's DS was born on that day and she has pointed out he was born on the same day bag charges were introduced in England and people are shocked.

Why do people still not come shopping without bags? See the same faces most days at work buying bags. "Left the bags in the car" - pack at the car then!

If people buy on average 10 bags at 30p each per week at supermarkets, shops like B&M, Poundland - that's £156 a year. People don't look at the price as a whole they think "its only 30p".

Then see people down my road using brand new carrier bags for rubbish. Bin bags are cheaper (per unit), bigger and able to tie them up properly.

Then my work is opposite a few other shops - see customers buy two items and buy a bag from us when they have room in another shop's bag they just purchased from. What's that about?

The number of times I have bought bags is in single figures. For example - buying a coat - none of the bags I had were big enough. Brought 2 bags with me and one broke - it wasn't the retailer's bag in question. So couldn't get the replacement free.

Please stop buying bags. Fold one up inside your handbag. I am ok with those who bought more than they intend and don't have room in their own bags they have brought with them.

Taking your own bags is a simple way to help with CoL.

These discussions have ecological relevance, we shouldn't be stifling dialogue that challenges and questions waste. It's actually all our business! Go ahead and buy 100 bags, just shows up your mentality.

bob

a previous poster just said pop a bag in your handbag, thats why people are saying they don’t use handbags

Those plastic bags don't fit the bins anyway, I would still have to fork out for Brabantia or Simplehuman specific bags even if I had old carrier bags

absolutely! i live in middle east were we still get free single use plastic bags (like most countries globally). They are everywhere, i refused on this morning for a can of coffee. i don't know how people think on a tiny little island like Uk stopping people buying a carrier is going to have any effect at all...its pedantic to me.

and don't get me started on paper straws

I used to use my own bags even before the bag tax, not for any recycling reasons it was just easier to pack shopping into those big green jute Waitrose bags you used to be able to get, they haven't sold them for years though and my two are about worn out, sadly. DH is going to use them as boot bags to finish them off. I see one cheeky person has one for sale on eBay starting at £20??, slightly used.

I get fed up of cashiers asking "do you want a bag?" when I've just put my bag for life I brought with me on the end of the checkout or if I'm only buying one thing.

Some of these cashiers were children when it became law in 2011 so it's the shop's directive not habit. Obviously they ask because they have to upsell as not all stores use the money to good causes.

I agree, OP, but this is Mumsnet, so people will angrily defend their right to continue being forgetful and wasteful and to buy more plastic bags if they want!

And to be honest, plastic bags are a drop in the ocean. We need to drastically reduce carbon use and all forms of pollution but with people getting defensive about their freedom to drive their SUVs, fly everywhere and relentlessly consume there's simply no chance. We need governments to impose a carbon ration on everyone.

Selfish attitude there you have.

Selfish attitude you have. What a waste.

I don’t see the problem. The 10p goes to charity so I’m actually doing my bit by paying for bags.

Are you taking the mick?
How hard is it to bring your own bags?

Well if you check on Google maps you'll notice that the UK is an island surrounded by oceans and seas. And we have rivers, chalk streams, green open spaces and mountainous regions.

If we care just one tiny bit about our environment, we don't want as far as the eye can see to be strewn with single use bags hanging off trees and hedgerows, strangling marine life, because there are arseholes out there who litter our environment with this plastic detritus. The government took action in the UK and I personally have noticed the improvement, the epidemic that was single use plastic bags has been brought under control.

There is still a big litter problem, so it's work in progress, but to your point, yes it absolutely does make a difference and we have to keep going, keep talking about it and challenge it at every turn.

I’m exactly the same

I usually take a bag with me, but sometimes I have unplanned visits to shops so don’t have one on me. Occasionally I buy a little more than I anticipated so need an extra bag. And other times I’m in a rush to get out and just simply forget.

Shit happens. I’m not going to lose sleep or go bankrupt over spending the occasional 30p. And I’ll re-use those bags I do end up having to buy.

MYOB

It does puzzle me. I've managed to never leave my house without keys, phone, water, spare bags ever.

I'm crap at most things but not that.

How does everyone go shopping without a handbag! My purse won't fit in my coat or jacket pockets, never mind the phone. The jeans/trousers pockets arent big enough for keys,purse, phone.Only in the old scruffy parka I walk the dogs in. What about the summer months when you aren't wearing one
My handbag,is big enough for the odd purchase

Ahhh gotcha! Tbh i only started reusing bags because I got sick of collecting them without and obvious purpose as we kept forgetting them. Moving them to the car has been much better!

I don't carry a purse, I just pay contactless on my phone. If it's summer or I don't have pockets I just make dp put the keys and my phone in his pockets or I hold them. I do usually have pockets in my shorts though

Paying contactless tho does have its downfalls. If you need cash if the systems are down. If you need to put your pin into the card reader. If places are cash only.

My phone doesn't even fit in my pockets. I would be worried it would fall out.

Agreed! It's wasteful and the label is really sticky so I spend ages trying to get it off when I get home. Honestly I don't know why I am so passionate against these stickers but they make me irrationally angry 🤣🤣

We always take our own bags to the supermarket, unless we are on the way back from a trip and don’t have them with us for that reason. And if I’m going to town usually have a couple cotton bags in my handbag. Live in Wales where the plastic bag charge was first introduced and it’s second nature now.

Judging by this thread people clearly don't care or think. Should be second nature here too but this thread has proved other wise.

Ah if I need cash I just send a code to the cash point. I have no worries about spending over the limit as sadly my budget does not allow for that 🤣

If your phone falls out of your pockets? My pockets are not big enough for my phone (which is several years old)
I wouldn't want to be a risk of being pickpocketed or it falling out of my pocket as it isn't secure.