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.

If people have more money than sense and are not concerned about all the plastic waste (hope they don't have children) then let them get on with it

My pockets are huge and zip up on my coat. Expensive coat. My useful than an expensive bag I guess?

@daisychain01 can never remember anywhere being strewn with plastic bags to be honest so can't say that i agree with you. it's all a load of - rubbish. just money making for supermarkets

Well you just need to look at grass verges across the country and to see the damage that plastic has done to wildlife.

Are you this ignorant in real life.

My bags are never expensive and last for years.

Because I’m peri-menopausal and lucky if I remember to put matching shoes on let alone remember a bag. pardon me for not being perfect. <Father Jack “I’m sooooo sorry” impression>

I wish I had so few worries that I actually noticed how many shopping bags other people bought.

And litter strewn verges are a result of scummy litter bugs not people buying shopping bags

Right so how many plastic bags do you see around verges?
Sure you're aware of how plastic is damaging the environment and wildlife or do you not care?

If your pockets are huge like you claim, then they would be able to fit tote bags in easily. They fold up small.

Erm, why are you coming for me?

It’s sooooo boring and embarrassing for some righteous know-it-all to forever bellow “doNt yOu CaRe?!!?!?!”

What on earth makes you think I don’t care?

If nobody bought plastic shopping bags and brought their own reusable bags (no excuse now imo) then the areas would look slightly tidier and there would be less plastic and would be slightly better for the environment.

Like @IncessantNameChanger i also have jackets with enormous pockets precisely so I don’t have to carry bags around. I can easily do an evening shop for a dinner and treats and shove it all in my pockets. No need for a bag.

Why does Incessant need to put a tote bag in her massive pockets if she doesn’t need it and isn’t purchasing a plastic bag?

If nobody littered them there wouldn’t be plastic bags strewn on grass verges.

that was my point.

Litter is a result of littering, not generic purchasing.

You haven’t answered why you think I ‘don’t care’?

A tote bag is hardly going to take up any room in the giant pockets and if people buy more than they need it is there. For spares.
I always carry tote bags around with me.

The way you put it across. Tote bags fold up small so there is no excuse to buy plastic bags now.

But purchasing an unnecessary tote bag when massive pockets will is contributing to waste?

Ive seen some things on MN but never someone so very angry that other people use their pockets and not a tote bag to carry things.

I always carry tote bags around with me.

Good for you? What’s that got to do with anyone else?

I prefer carrying in my pockets because the weight is more evenly distributed and I don’t get sore back and shoulders from carrying a bag. It also means I have 2 hands free for using my phone/karate chopping assailants/opening doors/waving at beeping cars on my walk home. Is that OK by you? Do I get the Tote Bag Police Seal of Approval

Weirdly you seem annoyed when people buy bags, but also when they don't?

Specifically what did I put across to make it sound like I don’t care? I was criticising litter bugs.

I don't tend to carry a handbag. I just have my phone, with a pop wallet on it to store a couple of cards and then my keys in my pocket.

Carry it in your hand.

I stopped carrying a handbag 2 years ago and it’s so liberating to have 2 hands free!

I could recycle my poppy each year, I could recycle my red nose each year, but I don't. I'm happy to pay towards the charity each time and get a new one, same with bags.

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

Do you not have the recycling option in your area for plastics?

OP what difference does it make to you what other people spend on bags?! Seriously?!

@YaMuvva people litter even with reusable fabric bags or paper bags because so many people just fly tip their rubbish (why?).
I see it all the time. People leaving a bunch of clothes/toys/random electronics in a fabric tote next to a Bottle Bank.
People will litter if they are going to litter - unfortunately.
The UK needs this mindset of just dumping rubbish to change and councils need to sort their recycling methods out better.
At the moment fly tipping seems to be a bigger problem than whether someone uses a plastic or paper/fabric bag.
It's actually very sad and depressing.