Carrier bag charges still a no-show, Benyon being handbagged by Greenies Options

[gel]

I hope Benyon ignores this pressure to charge for supermarket bags; we have quite enough of Govn't telling us what to do already.

Weekly bin collections were removed with no democratic mandate, and WBC have
decided to not participate in the funding by central govn't to enable Councils to return to weekly collections.
The so called limited survey on issue was underhand/ no way representative.
Our local Cllr for the Downlands didn't even know when it was discussed in Council;
I managed to dig out, and surprise, surprise the Councillor wasn't at the meeting.

Inefficient wind turbines bleated about by Greenies cost us all hundreds of pounds in extra energy costs, and will only increase ever further under Blair/Camerloons committment to ridiculous emission targets.

All our supermarket bags are recycled anyway, so we'd still use them regardless.

All these carbon taxes are slowly smothering UK industry, especially large energy users;
these will simply decant elsewhere to countries who don't lumber their economies with
green taxes/ ignore EU rules.
So employment & tax take for UK plc reduces permanently, causing further damage to our balance of payments.

[JeffG]

Not sure where you read about "this pressure" (you don't give a source), but M&S in the Retail Park already charge 5p per bag if you decide to use them. I don't shop there often, but I always take my own bags to my usual supermarket.

As for weekly bin collections, I forgot to put mine out one fortnight, and it was nearly full when the next collection time came around. I could do with a weekly green bin collection, though.

[dannyboy]

Plastic bags should be £1.00 ea.


I have 5 indistructible bags which I got in France over 10 years ago. I use them every single week when I go shopping. They cost about £0.50 in a French supermarket called Casino.

[Biker1]

Not sure where you read about "this pressure" (you don't give a source),

Quote from newburytoday.co.uk story................"ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners are heaping pressure on Newbury MP Richard Benyon to introduce carrier bag charges across England."

[lordtup]

Another great mystery of our time , the" disposable " plastic bag .I purchased a cleaning disc for my dvd burner in the week , the wretched thing had more plastic packaging than goes into 100 supermarket bags and necessitated the use of an army knife to access it , with a half life of 500 years I'm sure it will still be around when the sun goes out . One never hears a politician bleating about unnecessary packaging but as soon as an opportunity arises to fleece the poor shopper then its full steam ahead.
I tend to use my own bags when shopping but just occasionally one pops into a supermarket without , and the thought of being charged for a plastic bag with their brand name emblazoned across it certainly would make me somewhat selective in my choice of proprietor .

[NWNREADER]

What about the tons of plastic used for bottled water. This country does not need drinking water to be bottled, yet numerous shoppers buy the stuff by the gallon.
Anything wrong with tap water? More plastic would be saved deterring bottled water than carrier bags, I reckon. Charge 1p/litre for the plastic, get rid of a wasteful industry or pay for the cost of sorting it out. Might do something for aquifers too.....

[HeatherW]

Even though certain companies charge for their carrier bags I cannot see the big super markets doing it. Personally I take my own bags with me and can not see why other people cannot.

[JeffG]

What about the tons of plastic used for bottled water

At least the bottles are recycled (presumably to make more plastic bottles). You don't see many people taking plastic bags back to supermarkets for re-use and they can't be recycled in the normal way. I'm sure there must be some (like gel) who use them again, but I have never seen anyone.

[Blake]

I do abhor the way the term "greenies" is used so churlishly and disparingly.

Saving the planet and slashing waste and emissions is a question of rationality if humanity wants to have any sort of civilised future.

I support the bag tax. The revenue could be used to clean up litter and bolster waste recycling.

I agree, I cannot abide those who drink bottled water; what a complete waste of resources.

[andy1979uk]

I do abhor the way the term "greenies" is used so churlishly and disparingly.

Saving the planet and slashing waste and emissions is a question of rationality if humanity wants to have any sort of civilised future.

I support the bag tax. The revenue could be used to clean up litter and bolster waste recycling.

I agree, I cannot abide those who drink bottled water; what a complete waste of resources.

I just take my own bags, bigger and stronger than the supermarket ones.

No issues with bottles water as the bottles are recycled, no diff to drinking bottled anything else.

[Andy Capp]

I doubt the bottles that litter popular walking/jogging routes are recycled. Drinking bottled water is different because other drinks are not on tap like water.

[Biker1]

You don't see many people taking plastic bags back to supermarkets for re-use and they can't be recycled in the normal way. I'm sure there must be some (like gel) who use them again, but I have never seen anyone.

I did, this morning!

[andy1979uk]

I doubt the bottles that litter popular walking/jogging routes are recycled. Drinking bottled water is different because other drinks are not on tap like water.

tap water is not as nice to drink as bottled water

[Andy Capp]

tap water is not as nice to drink as bottled water

That is a matter of opinion, although I have seen reports that suggest people often don't know the difference.

[andy1979uk]

That is a matter of opinion, although I have seen reports that suggest people often don't know the difference.

I prefer bottled water and I recycle the bottles so am not sure why it would be an issue to some people.

[Andy Capp]

I prefer bottled water and I recycle the bottles so am not sure why it would be an issue to some people.

It is an issue for all the reason already posted. Recycling mitigates the environmental damage caused by manufacturing bottled water, it doesn't replace it.

[andy1979uk]

It is an issue for all the reason already posted. Recycling mitigates the environmental damage caused by manufacturing bottled water, it doesn't replace it.

but its a product that I buy, would you like to see rest of my shopping list ?

[Nothing Much]

I have a well . Well it's 40 ft deep. 3 neighbours have an easement.(They don't know that).
I had better sort that out. We tried the water on cats who seemed to survive.
It was the only water for 3 houses.
ce

[Andy Capp]

but its a product that I buy, would you like to see rest of my shopping list ?

I don't get your point. You stated that you don't see what the problem is. I just gave a couple of reasons.

[andy1979uk]

I don't get your point. You stated that you don't see what the problem is. I just gave a couple of reasons.

so buying it has no effect on the environment, so what is poeples issue with bottled water ?