[Mrluvaluva]

"Winter fuel payments for over-60s up from £200 to £250"

"Wine up 14p-a-bottle"

"Spirits up 55p-a-bottle"

"Beer up 4p-a-pint"

"11p on a packet of cigarettes"

"Low emission cars to pay no car tax from 2010"

"Support the expansion of Heathrow"

"Climate change levy to rise with inflation"

"New non-domestic buildings to be zero-carbon by 2019"

"£26m funding to reduce carbon emsissions in home"

"Money raised to go to charity"

"Plastic bag charges imposed next year"

"100% of emission trading allowances to be auctioned"

"Inquiring whether carbon reduction target should be 80%"

"Need to take action on climate change is urgent"

"Sites for 70,000 new homes found"

"Publishing findings of housing finance review"

"More people to have choice of long-term fixed rate mortgages"

[Matt]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva

"Plastic bag charges imposed next year"

Oh for ******* sake. I accept that plastic bags may contribute towards harming the environment, but is charging for them REALLY the way to go about solving problems?

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by Matt

Oh for ******* sake. I accept that plastic bags may contribute towards harming the environment, but is charging for them REALLY the way to go about solving problems?

I think it will make more people re-use their bags, thus leading to a decline in their manufacture.

[Matt]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva

I think it will make more people re-use their bags, thus leading to a decline in their manufacture.

I presume they're talking about a Marks-and-Spencer style charge (5p a bag).

Do you think having to pay 5p a bag will really affect how many plastic bags that supermarkets will be giving out?

Paying 5p per plastic bag is nothing really, especially considering the price hikes on petrol, wine, spirits, beer and cigarettes...

[~Kizwiz~]

Originally posted by Matt

I presume they're talking about a Marks-and-Spencer style charge (5p a bag).

Do you think having to pay 5p a bag will really affect how many plastic bags that supermarkets will be giving out?

Paying 5p per plastic bag is nothing really, especially considering the price hikes on petrol, wine, spirits, beer and cigarettes...

It will effect people buying them yes, they will either re-use old plastic bags or buy a large hessian or fabric that all the stores are now full of.

I dont really mind not having free plastic bags as it will make people think about how many they need much more

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by Matt

Do you think having to pay 5p a bag will really affect how many plastic bags that supermarkets will be giving out?

Paying 5p per plastic bag is nothing really, especially considering the price hikes on petrol, wine, spirits, beer and cigarettes...

Yes. Some families have to live on tight budgets and a few pence makes a lot of difference when you add it all up. I think quite a lot of people will change their views on this matter, and not just take it for granted that they can use loads of carrier bags because they are free. Get one of those "bag for life" type ones.

[Matt]

Originally posted by ~kizwiz~

It will effect people buying them yes, they will either re-use old plastic bags or buy a large hessian or fabric that all the stores are now full of.

And what if you forget to bring bags while you're shopping? You'll surely just pay for more?

Fabric bags are more expensive than plastic bags. If you had the choice of paying 5p for a plastic bag, or 50p for a fabric bag of the same size, which would you pay for? Many people, especially those on a low income, would choose the latter.

I'd also say that this is hypocritical of the Government. They're so concerned about the environment, yet are supporting the expansion of Heathrow. That's not really helping the environment, is it? Won't that just add more air pollution to the atmosphere?

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by Matt

Fabric bags are more expensive than plastic bags. If you had the choice of paying 5p for a plastic bag, or 50p for a fabric bag of the same size, which would you pay for? Many people, especially those on a low income, would choose the latter.

I'd also say that this is hypocritical of the Government. They're so concerned about the environment, yet are supporting the expansion of Heathrow. That's not really helping the environment, is it? Won't that just add more air pollution to the atmosphere?

A bag for life from Tesco costs about 10 or 20p I think. This can be used again and again, wheras if you keep on buying plastic bags at 5p a pop, then the cost will be much more in the long run. If you forget to take the bag/bags with you, then buy another one, or you may need to use plastic ones as a one off. Getting into the routine of taking bags with you when you go out shopping is not that hard.

When a family does a weekly shop, how many carrier bags do they use? Say 10? At £0.05 a go, that is £0.50 in one go. That is £2.00 pe rmonth, and £24.00 per year.

Which do you think is the cheaper option?

[Dr43%er]

Of course, if I re use the bags I have I will just have to buy bin bags to take their place. End result? just as many bags go in the ground.

[Mrluvaluva]

I don't understand what you are saying Doc.

[Dr43%er]

At the moment I use my carrier bags as my bin bags. If I were to get a bag for life I would just have to buy bin bags to put my rubbish in. So my bag output to the tip would be no different to what it is now.

[Mrluvaluva]

Oh I get you now, but everyone doesn't do that. I used to end up accumulating masses of carrier bags under the sink, and then having to throw them out. Re-usable bags are therefore better for me as I use bin bags for rubbish.

[GiRTh]

How often can a reusable bag be used?

I ask because I too use bags for a dustbin then tranfer to my large dustbin. I'd have the same problem as the doc if I used re-usable bags.

[Mrluvaluva]

Those bags for life last a long time. I have had no need to throw them away and get new ones.

[Shaun]

I love how these "green" taxes, such as compulsory charges for carrier bags, are immediately undermined by planning to expand Heathrow Airport A tad hypocritical to say the least.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Mrluvaluva
Those bags for life last a long time. I have had no need to throw them away and get new ones.

How strong are they? I dont want my shopping spilling all over the floor.

[~Kizwiz~]

Originally posted by Matt

Fabric bags are more expensive than plastic bags. If you had the choice of paying 5p for a plastic bag, or 50p for a fabric bag of the same size, which would you pay for? Many people, especially those on a low income, would choose the latter.

I have recently had to cope on a very small budget where each penny had to be counted, but if bags wernt free then I would use the bags for life every time.

In most french supermarkets they dont have plastic bags at all

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally posted by GiRTh

How strong are they? I dont want my shopping spilling all over the floor.

They are actually very robust. If you buy a few bottles (like me), you don't have to worry about the bags splitting.