UK (or parts thereof) to ban free plastic bags?

[Impartial_Eclipse]

Well, it looks like Scotland will follow Wales in finally banning free plastic bags - some ten years after we did. Northern Ireland is mulling over a similar initiative. 5p doesn't seem like a lot though. England will be festooning her hedgerows with witch's knickers for the foreseeable, it seems.

By the way, I'm surprised to see the Daily Mail embrace such a "progressive" idea. Normally, this sort of measure would provoke an hysterical headline along the lines of:
OUTRAGE AS EUROPE FORCES HARD-WORKING FAMILIES TO BLAH BLAH ETC.

Scotland plans to charge for plastic bags, will England follow? | Mail Online

[Truth.ie]

Charging for plastic bags helped a little, (and was a nice little earner for the Govt) but it's not the solution.
Simply ban plastic bags. Full stop. There are paper and bio-degradable alternatives.
i've asked for paper bags in Irish shops and supermarkets and been refused, so we shouldn't be patting ourselves on the back just yet.

[tullahogue]

The northern Executive decided last year in the budget negotiations to introduce a plastic bag levy and legislation for this is currently going through Stormont.

[jcdf]

Charging for plastic bags helped a little, (and was a nice little earner for the Govt) but it's not the solution.
Simply ban plastic bags. Full stop. There are paper and bio-degradable alternatives.
i've asked for paper bags in Irish shops and supermarkets and been refused, so we shouldn't be patting ourselves on the back just yet.

But that means you would have to ban anything that resembles a plastic bag even though it is not. This would not be practical!

As for myself, when I go shopping I bring a plastic bag or bags out with me. I only throw them out when they wear out. It is a good idea as a neatly folded up plastic bag takes up no space at all, can carry it around in your pocket.

[Impartial_Eclipse]

But that means you would have to ban anything that resembles a plastic bag even though it is not. This would not be practical!

As for myself, when I go shopping I bring a plastic bag or bags out with me. I only throw them out when they wear out. It is a good idea as a neatly folded up plastic bag takes up no space at all, can carry it around in your pocket.

I always bring a wee knapsack along. I'd feel naked without one.

[Truth.ie]

But that means you would have to ban anything that resembles a plastic bag even though it is not. This would not be practical!

As for myself, when I go shopping I bring a plastic bag or bags out with me. I only throw them out when they wear out. It is a good idea as a neatly folded up plastic bag takes up no space at all, can carry it around in your pocket.

No, it's simply a case of supermarkets sourcing their bags from a distributor that provides a different chemical make-up in the "plastic" bag.
It looks like plastic, feels like plastic, just as strong as plastic, but disintegrates with no environmental impact when in contact with the elements.
It's not rocket science.
But some supermarkets like to see their bags fluttering in branches and hedgerows for eternity as it means free publicity.

[Impartial_Eclipse]

Charging for plastic bags helped a little, (and was a nice little earner for the Govt) but it's not the solution.
Simply ban plastic bags. Full stop. There are paper and bio-degradable alternatives.
i've asked for paper bags in Irish shops and supermarkets and been refused, so we shouldn't be patting ourselves on the back just yet.

I couldn't see a total ban ever working. There are things that need non-aborbent surfaces; meat for example.

[Truth.ie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradble_plastic

[Truth.ie]

I couldn't see a total ban ever working. There are things that need non-aborbent surfaces; meat for example.

Bio-plastic is non absorbent.
It's exactly the same texture as plastic but with animal or plant cellular make up.
You can even put them in your compost bin.
Oh and they're cheaper to produce.
It's a non runner as I said, supermarkets like everlasting bags littering the World and the Govt like the revenue accrued.

[Monsieur P]

I always bring a wee knapsack along. I'd feel naked without one.

I get the butler to do the shopping - f*ck knows what he does for bags.