Plastic carrier bags - Shock horror, I'm not against them

[mumtosam]

I'd love to agree with the current line of thought that they're evil but I don't. So before we get rid of them / tax them to oblivion has anyone come up with a half decent alternative.

I'm happy to recycle - what the difference to me which dustbin I put my rubbish in.

My driving is enviromentally friendly -I drive a hybrid vehicle and walk plenty.

I reuse my carrier bags at home as bin liners so don't have any to take with me to the shops.

So please tell me why I should start paying 5-10p a bag.

Not just in the ground: In the food chain.

Tescos deliver in things like big milk crates which they take away with them (not that I'd have anywhere to put them anyway).

If they have to go upstairs they are packed in bags and the bags are in the crates so they can be carried up.
I guess I will be paying for dozens of bags each time I guess

Not carrier bags but - can someone tell me what those of us without dustbins are expected to use to bag rubbish in?

I am amazed how many bags I can use in my tiny kitchen bin - bread, potatoes, carrots, cereal - all still come in plastic bags.

NO ideas on what to bag the rubbish in then?

You can use biodegradable bin liners like OliveOil said.

What did people use for their rubbish before plastic bags became widespread?

Probably dustbins - but we don't have them here, hence wanting to know what else we could use (sensible suggestions please).

Can't use biodegradable - they don't last long enough until they come to collect the rubbish.

sainsburys sell biodegradable black bin bags

the sainsburys ones do joash unless you rubbish is collected annually

but they don't last long enough - damage very easily, then we are left with rubbish all over the bloody garden. When we put the rubbish out - the flaming seagulls rip the bags open. the only thing that seems to last are those extra strong liners.

Joash, get yourself a dustbin to put the liners in until bin day.

Can you not get a dustbin to store the rubbish bags in & then just put the bag out on bin day? That's what we do.

No where to put a dustbin

Oh you're not trying now where do you keep the bags FGS?

a dustbin takes up the same space as one full black bin liner so if you have room for the rubbish outside then you have room for a dustbin...unless you keep the rubbish inside & the seaguls are your pets?

I didn't think biodegradable bags were necessarily a good thing.

Firstly, as they degrade they emit methane & carbon dioxide, don't they? Aren't we trying to reduce the amount of that that we chuck out?

Secondly, I thought that having too much degradable material in landfill was a problem, because then your landfill sinks, and you can't build on top of it.

Compostable bags are better, but only if you're going to put them in your compost heap when they are no longer needed.

Actually, we put the rubbish underneath a platform that the coal bunker stands on, this space is approximately 2 1/2 foot high -please tell me how to fit a dustbin under that? (and how to lift the lid once it's under there)

and where to even buy a dustbin!!!

(but I'm quite happy for my supermarket to charge for bags - it will encourage me to remember my own bags!)

Joash you can buy a dustbin at any DIY shop or Garden Centre. Mine (one for rubbish one for recyling)were from B&Q.

Can't you block off the space you're using so the seagulls can't get there?

Come on try harder - where there's a will there's a way you know

Is the coal bunker in use?

The problems with the seagulls is only on the day we put the rubbish out for collection - on a public road - so no way of blocking off. I live in the middle of no-where - couldn't even tell you where there might be a garden centre and as I have said, absolutely no space for a dustbin

terramum - er yes, it holds coal.