Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

re: Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

Peter Martin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:17:48 GMT

How ME paying M&S 5p is going to stop litter louts lobbing 'em skywards to end up as a turtle tourniquet remains unclear. Especially as, beyond it being more a litter issue, it's all eventually handled via our current waste stream system, which is woeful. To be fair, some are addressing things already. Just differently. So personally I prefer the Tesco incentive of Club Points or Waitrose re:friendly dedicated till lines to keep things in the loop. But which, it seems, the Daily Mail and Downing Street* hadn't negoti... heard of. * Was I right about our national lead..followership or what?

re: Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

Mark Bridge — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:03:27 GMT

I reckon free carrier bags are only used by people who buy bottled water.

re: Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

alex parr — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:28:49 GMT

there was also something else in the guardian about china banning plastic bags and other 'white pollution' (which apparently is what the call pastic bags, polystyrene etc over there). seems even china's getting more environmentally aware and has cottoned on to this one pretty quick. we probably won't be far behind. new pic gord?

re: Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

Peter Martin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:53:12 GMT

While there are undoubtedly serious environmental issues (major ecologically to wildlife; not quite so sure how significant in terms of carbon in a probably man-worsened climate change sense vs. a few other things, mind) here, and all pretty much negative, before hurtling off an another knee-jerk, distracting (takes the pressure of oodles of more pressing issues... possibly?) Planet Ban-It it might be worth asking a few more questions first. First up, I simply wonder how these things end up where they do. Yes, the supermarkets provide the things and are highly complicit in the less than virtuous route they take, but I'd say in this regard it is more those who are in the disposal chain who need looking at. Consumers/public who just throw them in the air? Councils and waste disposers who do not keep them where they can do no more harm? Then there is the matter of alternatives. This really is often not as simple as portrayed. From endless bags for life to recyclables that aren't, to compostables that can't... at least not with many current systems. Why do I feel our Dear Leader PM will emerge soon from his bunker to offer another flag wave for such a critical issue such as this, with so little else to concern himself about, including on the environment. I'm not saying that plastic bags don’t look like a very good target to address in reducing our consumer impact on the planet, I just question how high up the totem it is in importance to warrant all such activity, along with the sincerity of many of those involved - especially when you look at how good their past records are, how 'necessary' much they themselves actually do is, and what it imposes upon the planet (I presume the Daily Mail will be doing no more freebies in plastic bags then. But interesting that this major issue has gone mainstream. The Indy and Guardian must be thrilled) is vs. what they say... or advocate (guessing the 4x4 & holiday ads, fashion supplement trips to Tokyo, etc, won't be off the menu any too soon). Me, I get my news online. All that paper... all those carbon consequences in delivery. Perhaps yet another profession’s jobs on the line soon? ‘Careful what you wish for’ springs to mind. ‘First they came for...’ also occurs. But it's good to be informed. Too make objective choices. Just so long as we have all the facts... and get our priorities right. http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/11/junkk-category-plastic-bags.html

re: Banishing plastic bags - supermarkets must act

nairn foster — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:49:02 GMT

In Ireland the use of plastic carrier bags went down but sales of black bin sacks went through the roof. As always, the facts are used and abused to make a subjective point. Not a big surprise the Daily Mail presents a one sided argument.