Supermarkets premature in charging for carrier bags

Yes, today is the start of that ruling. I was given a couple of carrier bags from Tesco last week and advised to keep them because of the impending charges. I remember Asda trying this system some years ago, but it failed miserably. Most people, myself included, often forgot to take a carrier bag with them when they returned to Asda and ended up having to buy another. Asda decided to give up rather than risk losing customers. Of course this time the circumstances are different. With this being the law there will be no fear of individual supermarkets losing customers to others.

Charging for bags is a law? Can you choose to not get a bag? What if you just buy a small item like a pack of mints?

That maybe a case of misinformation! I don't think they did it deliberately though.. Confusions are bound to be created when a new law is being introduced.

Our folks collect but the charge is so nominal that nobody is really bothering. In your case, it is a rip off alright.

Here where I live in Ontario, Canada, it has been the law for years. We got used to it.

That's what the supermarkets here do, too. I personally think it defeats the whole purpose of being eco-friendly since some people don't really care that they have to pay extra for plastic bags. They might as well not charge anything for them.

You were ripped off! I don't suppose that it's worth claiming back 5p but I believe that you may have every right to do so (unless the shop had a clear notice to the effect that they were charging for bags). I suppose that they could claim that their computer system had been updated early and that there was nothing they could do about it. Tesco updated all their systems overnight on Sunday.

If the government introduces this stupid law in Singapore, I can tell you there will be a revolt. Over here, all of us use the supermarket plastic bag to dispose our rubbish. Nobody will think of buying black garbage bag for waste disposal. The supermarket plastic bag is the right size since we live in high rise apartment, and we tend to throw out rubbish at least twice a day.

This came into effect a couple or so years ago out here. Luckily I had tons of plastic bags stashed away at home to use when needed - it has lasted me til this day. Otherwise, I guess I've gotten used to using reusable bags but still I forget them at car or even at home at times - and then I end up buying a paper bag if there are too many items. But boy, were you ripped off - they should give you a free bag next time for that inconvenience!!

Maybe they thought the law started on the first of the month...

I would go back and talk to the owner/manager and if they aren't willing to listen tell them you won't be back or you can look at it as saving the world for the future generations.

Well, in theory it's a good idea. that being said I tend to buy a cart full, I'd need some massive reusable bags for that.

At last England has been brought into line with the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland has had this for a while now and it works.

Could have been a store policy thing, before the law kicked in.I would ask management the next time you back though.

This is a very sensible thing to do, simply because of the harm caused by plastic bags. They create huge problems to the environment and endanger wildlife. I always refuse to use a shop plastic bag - presumably this charge (which is only England coming into line with the rest of the country) will persuade other people to do likewise.

I heard about that law on the news here. I'm glad we don't have it here, but one place I heard it on said that we might be getting that here too. I have a bunch of reusable shopping bags, cloth ones, but I always forget to use them. I suppose I might remember if I had to start paying for the plastic bags.