Carrier bag 5p levy

[Pondlife]

They're starting it over here in the Land of My Fathers soon.

I have no problem with paying an extra couple of pence for a bag but as usual they have made it overly complicated so it will just fu<k things up.

There are potential areas of confusion. For example, if you pick up prescription medication at a chemist then you won't have to pay for the bag as it's exempted.

But if you pay for a bottle of shampoo at the same time at the check out, then you will have to pay 5p.

Another exemption is unwrapped or partially unwrapped food.

So if you go to a fast food restaurant and order fries you won't have to pay for the bag but you will pay if you order a burger with the fries because the burger is fully wrapped.

An exemption only applies if exempted items are the only products in the bag.

[Paddy]

I prefer the system at my old Dutch supermarket. You could either buy a strong reusable bag woven plastic and very cheap or you put money in a machine to buy a re-usable plastic bag. I hate the thin rubbishy supermarket bags but I like the paper bags at Primark… (where a friend of mine shops and told me about them)

[AtW]

Here is what I don't like:

1) asking me if I want usual bags or bags for life

2) asking me how many bags I'll need before I finish packing

FFS

[PAH]

I'm going to go on Dragon's Den with my Bag In A Pocket idea, following hot on the heels of that bird that got investment the other night for her Bog In A Bag idea.

I've patented the concept of black bags packaged tightly so they fit in a back pocket.

The real money will be in the refill packs, as it will be impossible to repack the bags into such a small profile once opened.

[TimberWolf]

I'm going to go on Dragon's Den with my Bag In A Pocket idea, following hot on the heels of that bird that got investment the other night for her Bog In A Bag idea.

I've patented the concept of black bags packaged tightly so they fit in a back pocket.

The real money will be in the refill packs, as it will be impossible to repack the bags into such a small profile once opened.

I've already got one of those. It's say 5 litre capacity (not checked) and made out of some kind of fabric. I often take it camping with me since it squashes into it's own tiny stuff sack, much smaller than a fist. Say half a fist. Never got around to using it though. I also take bin liners which are useful and fold into nothing. Plus a few zip lock bags, as these likewise fold into nothing. My passport ends up in one if I'm expecting damp. Surprisingly the latter even survive being be employed as a pillow. I also use them to store rubbish until I find a bin :halo emoticon:

[doodab]

I generally just take my rucksack with me. Much easier to carry if you're walking and have a lot of bottles, jars or tins to carry.

[Arturo Bassick]

In Germany I carry one of those cloth bags all the time.

In the UK the wife has a nylon bag from our local Decathlon store that stuffs in a plastic ball. Its like a wizards sleeve it holds so much.

[PAH]

I've already got one of those.

I'm taking the Apple approach to prior art. It's not who invented it, it's who blags the patent.

[Old Greg]

It seems to work pretty well in Ireland.

[SueEllen]

When I was a little child in the 80s we use to have to pay to get carrier bags with our shopping from the supermarket.

I remember because I use to get told off for screwing them up as my mum use to fold them neatly so they could be reused.

I don't understand what the big deal is as the thin carrier bags are tulip to reuse unless you are using them for rubbish.