Don't get carried away!

Epsom, England
December 16, 2015 1:11pm CST
The UK have introduced a 5p charge on all supermarket carrier bags. Is this the same worldwide? Personally, I think that it is a good idea as recycling has benefits for the environment. I always re-use carrier bags. There may be others that dislike the idea of the charge
3 people like this
5 responses
• Greece
16 Dec 15
It is a pity that these bags were introduced in the first place, there was a time when every woman had a shopping bag or two. One for the vegetables and the other for the grocery. I have five bags which I bought from the supermarket which are made of extra strong material and they last for a long time. I rarely need to have a plastic bag now. Charging for them is a brilliant idea, I just wonder why it took so long to come up with it.
2 people like this
• Epsom, England
16 Dec 15
Yes I agree. I too have a couple of good strong shopping bags and lots of carrier bags that I collected when I knew that the charge was coming in
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
17 Dec 15
i don't think they should charge for the bags. it's already bad enough that they have hiked the prices of food and charge you tax on it. i am all for re-purposing things but here's the draw back. They charge you for the shopping bags which leaves the customer a bit angry because now they are paying for something that they should have complimentary and if they get the new reusable bags made of some cloth like material they have to buy them . They are okay if you are doing a small grocery shopping but suck if it was a bunch of heavy stuff. We have had them brake luckily we got ours free.
1 person likes this
• Epsom, England
17 Dec 15
I can see your point of view. It is a shame that the prices of food, even in the UK have risen to crazy proportions! Thankfully, smaller shops in the UK do not charge for carrier bags, so, that could be an incentive for everyone to keep on recycling bags once they've purchased something from the smaller store.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@lotty71 at the rate that they are hiking food cost people are not going to be able to eat meat. Right now when you go the cheaper option is usually chicken and even chicken isn't that cheap anymore and I can't eat it everyday i'd get sick of it fast.
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
18 Dec 15
@sharon6345 i did that once and it was all good until we had to carry the stuff in a bunch of trips a laundry basket works great for that part though. Load it up and make a lot less trips.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
16 Dec 15
In 2010, Washington, DC became the first city in the US to start charging customers to use plastic or paper bags. Since then, other cities or counties across the country have passed ordinances re: the use of plastic/paper bags. Some muncipalities have downright banned them. I live in Virginia, neighbor to DC, and, currently, there are no laws regarding the use of plastic or paper and all are still offered when checking out. However, some stores will pay the customer a nickel for each recyclable bag they bring and use.
A Washington, D.C. law mandates shoppers shell out a nickel for each grocery bag they use, and the regulation has caused people to stop taking as many unnecessary bags and reduced waste, the Baltim...
1 person likes this
• Epsom, England
17 Dec 15
I like idea of being paid a little something for recycling each bag
1 person likes this
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
17 Dec 15
Yes, this was implemented several years ago here. I think it's agood idea but again i found alot of people will just pay the money.
1 person likes this
• Epsom, England
18 Dec 15
Yes, I've noticed that some people don't want the hassle of bringing their own bags and would prefer to pay
• Epsom, England
18 Dec 15
@ricki_911 so Walmart in the USA still issue free bags, well that's good
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
18 Dec 15
@lotty71 I always try to bring my reuseable bag, but if I go to walmart I get them free. I reuse them for my garbage bags.
@JudyEv (328696)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jan 16
There was talk of a charge coming in but it hasn't happened yet. Many people now have their own canvas bags. I use the plastic bags as bin liners. Sometimes I forget to take my canvas bags or don't take enough.