Scots urged to help end the country's 'plastic bag culture'

wildgarlic · Scots urged to help end the country's 'plastic bag culture'

Scots were today urged to help end the country's 'plastic bag culture'.

At a meeting of 21 of the UK's leading retailers hosted by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) on plastic bag use in the UK, it was reported that over 12.4 billion plastic bags were used in 2007. That equates to over one billion bags in Scotland.

The figures also show:

* A reduction of almost eight per cent in the number of plastic bags used in the UK between 2006 and 2007
* Over 14 per cent reduction in new plastic used

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said this means there is still a long way to go for UK retailers to deliver the UK target of reducing the overall impact of carrier bags by 25 per cent by the end of 2008.

Mr Lochhead said:

"Reducing the unnecessary use of plastic bags is crucial if we are going to achieve a zero waste society in Scotland.

"This survey shows that some progress has been made but more needs to be done. UK retailers need to do much more to reduce the use and impact of plastic bags.

"We welcome any action by retailers to reduce waste from plastic bags. Charging for bags and giving a reward to customers when they return bags are two ways of doing this.

"I will be writing to Scottish retailers to ask precisely what action they are taking to deliver the target of a 25 per cent reduction in the impact of carrier bags by the end of this year.

"There is also a key role for consumers to play as well. One of the 10 Greener Pledges we launched in January is to reuse carrier bags.

"We must all reuse and recycle bags as much as possible and whenever we're at the checkout ask ourselves the question - 'do I need a bag?'

"If the voluntary agreement doesn't produce results then we will have to look again at further action, including considering legislation."

A voluntary agreement with UK retailers was agreed under the previous administration.

Based on data from 19 UK retailers 12.4 billion bags were used in the UK in 2007. This is down from 13.4 billion bags in 2006 - a 7.72 percent drop, once rounding is taken into account.

The virgin polymer used was 93,000 tonnes in 2007 down from 108,000 tonnes in 2006 - a 14.3 percent drop, once rounding is taken into account.

Fia

It never ceases to amaze me how many plastic bags I see in some folks houses. I'm old enough to remember before they were invented, and still have the habit of going shopping with my own, sustainable bags. I do use them for bagging up rubbish, catlit etc, but only have a small stock for my requirements. In France and Ireland a charge is made, which seems much more sensible to me. It would be interesting to see statistics from there...

Aberdeen City council sell fabulous large jute bags for £1.50 (at "The Point") - good for shopping and invaluable for bringing in wood for the stove too

wildgarlic

I've got quite a collection of reusable bags now... they are stashed away in the car, in my coat pockets, in my handbag, purse, camera bag.... I've generally got a bag with me all the time... after all, you just never know when you might need one - whether it be for shopping, or for a bit of impromptu foraging when the chance arises

Ina

Well, you know how many bags I have... And I still manage to go to the local shop and forget to take one. But then - hey, I'll just stick some of the stuff into the pockets, and carry the rest in my arms!

heatherday

I've just started making an effort to not use plastic bags if possible. Some shop assistants look at you as if you are mad when you say you don't want a bag. Made me think that shops like bags for security purposes. If they see people walking out of the shops with items in their arms chances are they will have to challange you so see if it is paid for, but if your shopping is in bags - no problem. I know I keep my receipt very handy if I have refused a bag and walk out arms laiden in case somebody stops me. You could guarantee this would only happen if you had just bought something embarassing too.

Tesco do a really handy large canvas shopper bag for £1 which has been a great investment. It is wide enough and strong enough to cope with most things. My pile of carriers at home is slowly going down now for the first time in years.

Ina

johnhcrf · T***o bags

Ina turn the bag inside out, replace the base insert. No more logo. I agree with you if they want you to advertise, let them pay you the going rate £500/mile.

hcrf

Julie

I'm still working on my youngest daughter as regards the carrier bags. I thought I'd made a breakthrough two days ago when she told me she had started buying organic food. She was so enthusiastic that I thought we had turned a corner so I asked if I could make her some bags to keep in her car now. She still refused them and insists that she won't remember to use them.
Meantime, I have to carry on taking her bags away and recycling what I can't reuse myself.
Any ideas how I might get her to change her mind without making her dig her heels in more?
I thought I might take her shopping and get her to use mine so she can see that they are actually more pleasant to use, hold more, don't cut into your palms, don't break and she'll get green points at the checkout.

johnhcrf · Regarding replacement(s) for plastic bags

Julie, There are 2 aspects to the problem. Firstly, if it is a moderate amount of shopping the idea is to make the replacement stylish. This has happened in many places. A local source could design such "must have" bags. Some examples are on sale on ebay for ridiculous amounts.
Secondly, larger shopping amounts, plastic bags are very versatile for the big shop (10 bags). This is a more difficult area and may require bagless shopping or new designs.

hcrf

misteralz

Plastic bags really don't bother me either way, but I will refuse them if I can carry all my purchases with relative ease - it's amazing how much you don't buy when you walk into a shop for a few things and don't pick up a basket as you go through the door! I still remember when all the supermarkets used to have a pile of empty cardboard boxes at the ends of the tills though, which was great. I think they probably stopped doing that to hit some pointless recycling target and in effect created a bigger monster! Or I could be talking pish, as per usual.

johnhcrf · Further to julie's plastic bag quandary

Selkirk became the seventh town to eradicate the plastic bag, though not completely (butcher spoke bull). As a gap in the market was created a local entrepreneur responded by creating a must-have bag. So ditch plastic bags in your town!
MrA, taking goods unbagged is a contribution. All help is appreciated.

John

Townie

Large multiples will retain all their cardboard boxes and paper.

It's then collected by a haulier, they benefit by being paid for the scrap spaper/cardboard by the tonne...

That is why you dont get empty boxes at the bottoms of the isles any more

Julie

Smaller retailers such as your local mini mart have to pay to have theirs taken away. If you ask, they will probably be glad to give you a box for your purchases.
If, like us, you use the cardboard in the garden as a weed suppressant under mulch, you can often scrounge quite a lot of cardboard from small shops.
We flatten them out, cut a hole in the centre and a slot to the hole. Then they fit beautifully under bushes and trees to keep the grass and weeds from competing with the bush. It rots down over the course of the year and helps to keep in the moisture too. We get lovely fat currants on our bushes too.

Scots urged to help end the country's 'plastic bag culture'

T***o bags

Regarding replacement(s) for plastic bags

Further to julie's plastic bag quandary