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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that these supermarkets must be raking it in

63 replies

mum2samandalex · 09/05/2008 13:59

with this whole recycling a bag scheme. I mean everytime i go to the shops ive even forgotten to bring my bags or havent got enough and end up buying more at 5p and sometimes 50p a time. This was the case for the women in front of me and behind me.And the ones i have brought have split already even the one i brought last night split when i was loading it into the car grrrrr. I cant see how this all helping the environment tbh its just another money making ploy.

OP posts:
Octothechildherder · 09/05/2008 14:10

Get real YABU

Bumdiddley · 09/05/2008 14:13

YANBU. I use them as bin bags. So now I can either pay for bin liners or pay for supermarket bags.

Why "Get real" Octothechildherder???

Octothechildherder · 09/05/2008 14:16

How can reducing the amount of plastic bags people use not be helping the environment? It does deter people having loads of them - some people put a couple of items in each bag - its disgraceful and wasteful.

Leave your bags in your car so you don't forget them and even better - use cloth ones. If the good quality supermarket ones break they replace them.

The sooner people realise it is about the environment the better.

clarinsgirl · 09/05/2008 14:19

YABU, recycled bags do help the environment. M&S are giving the profits from theirs to Groundworks charity.

Bumdiddley · 09/05/2008 14:20

Hmmm...going to be smug here...I don't own a car...one of the biggest polution creators..practise what you preach

clarinsgirl · 09/05/2008 14:20

Also, generally they are 'bags for life' so if it splits you can get another for free.

WowOoo · 09/05/2008 14:23

Hopefully, you'll soon learn to have enough in your car. After a while it's as instinctive as 'get your bags, lock the car, get a trolley' etc. All my cloth ones were freebies from the council and they don't rip and are very good for putting 2/3 bottles of wine in..!

Octothechildherder · 09/05/2008 14:24

Well I live in a village and it is 10 miles to the nearest supermarket. I either pay the supermarket £5 to deliver it or I go myself.

Smug and ignorant are not the best qualities to possess btw.

LMAsMummy · 09/05/2008 14:25

I don't have a car....but I still manage to take my own bags with me!!! And Bags for Life are great. And cloth bags ROCK!

southeastastra · 09/05/2008 14:25

the co op cloth one is really nice, quite big too and you can fit it in a tiny handbag. it's getting used to taking them with you when you shop. i suppose we'll all gt used to it eventually!

WowOoo · 09/05/2008 14:25

You are being smug Bum diddly! Would be impossible for me to do a weekly shop on public transport and lives miles away from supermarkets. You are very good though!

Bumdiddley · 09/05/2008 14:34

Octo - if you are that enviromently friendly you would find a way.

Most supermarkets offer a discount if you get a delivery on a certain day. Sainsbury take back your old bags when they deliver your next bag of shopping

Ignorant? I never said I knew you circumstances, it's just a bit rich boasting about your green credentials then saying you have a car!!

WowOoo - Smug - shouldn't really have said that..just can't actually afford a car!!!

pinkyminky · 09/05/2008 14:35

If you are going to be shopping for things, so you will need something to carry said shopping in- I think it pretty logical.

I use cloth bags and the ones from sainsburys that fold flat. I always have a couple of bags in the pram and we keep some in the car, too. Over many years we have a collection of cloth, hemp,and canvas bags that carry a lot more stuff and last a very long time.

rebelmum1 · 09/05/2008 14:36

What happened to the good old days when we used the old supermarket boxes thus recycling at no extra cost. Yes they have the green light to make a mint, but then so do the Gov by taxing petrol, without offering any alternatives on one hand, and centralising, closing rural post offices, schools and businesses and forcing people into their cars on the other hand..

Octothechildherder · 09/05/2008 14:39

Yes but they still have to drive here - which was my point. You have to spend £70 to get a delivery discount here.

I wasn't boasting about my green credentials if you read my posts. I was stating that it was unreasonable that the OP should think that reducing the use of plastic bags doesn't help the environment - which is quite ignorant.

stripeymama · 09/05/2008 14:41

The boxes had to go cos they are a fire hazard

We don't have a car either, and we take cloth bags for the shopping, and the pushchair if its a big shop.

cushioncover · 09/05/2008 14:42

The thick, green canvas ones from Waitrose don't look like anything could split them, ever! I just leave them as DD's feet then see them as I get her out the car. The cool bag one for fresh food is fab! I still have about 8 of them though plus kids so no way could I go without a car.

YABU!

FAQ · 09/05/2008 14:42

I'm a bit at these comments of "you can't be green if you own a car"......some people NEED a car.

In many places public transport just isn't there, disabilities, not to mention some people whose jobs REQUIRE a car (I suppose you could argue that if they cared that much they should find a job that didn't need a car....)......

DaisySteiner · 09/05/2008 14:43

Hmm, we use old carrier bags instead of bin liners though (for non-recyclable rubbish, obviously, which we produce very little of). If I have to pay for carrier bags I'll use cloth ones, but just end up buying bin bags instead

Bumdiddley · 09/05/2008 14:43

I didn't say that reducing the use of plastic bags doesn't help the environment.

I asked you to explain your "get real" and found your reply galloppingly (is that a word??) hypocritical.

People like me are enviromentally friendly but accident while people like you pick and choose what is convenient to you

rebelmum1 · 09/05/2008 14:47

Yes but charging for the carrier isn't really about the environment is it? It's about making money.. the bags still go out there..the supermarket just have a great chance to make more money selling bags either way they are just capitalising at your cost.

cushioncover · 09/05/2008 14:47

Oh it's bullshit to say why bother recycling if you drive/fly on holiday etc!

That's like saying, 'well if you cannot be wholly virtuous, kind and good the entire time then you shouldn't bother trying to be a decent person, cause that's just halfhearted. Be an evil cow instead!

flowerybeanbag · 09/05/2008 14:47

YABU, keep decent cloth or similar bags in the car/bottom of pushchair or wherever and you will then have non-split bags you don't have to pay for.

It is a good way to help the environment to reduce carrier bag use by charging for them, but also, what's wrong with supermarkets 'raking it in'? They are there to make a profit, not for the general public good. Lots of them raise thousands for charities as well.

Octothechildherder · 09/05/2008 14:48

No the OP did and you said it wasn't unreasonable.

The get real comment has already been explained - and everyone has the choice about what they do to help the environment but I am not about to justify anything to you.

Enjoy feeling smug. I need to go and pick up my kids in my car.

cushioncover · 09/05/2008 14:49

Stripeymama, I'm shocked that you can do a full shop just with a pushchair!