The Bag Tax

[Tetchytyke]

But if the company donates that 5p to charity, can they not claim tax relief on the donation?

The money to charity is sent net of tax and "reasonable costs".

HM Treasury get their 20%, don't you worry.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I went to the local supermarket yesterday (Asda).
And there was no infomation around on where the bag money goes.
Are they donating or just increasing the profit margin?

 

[TheNewNo2]

Amusingly, I bought a new suit jacket from M&S today, and that came in a suit carrier, which was not chargeable because it wasn't a single use bag, despite costing far more than one to make.

Given the point is to reduce single-use bags, that's reasonable.

 

[DarloRich]

I went to the local supermarket yesterday (Asda).
And there was no infomation around on where the bag money goes.
Are they donating or just increasing the profit margin?

have a guess

 

[Johnuk123]

My local Tesco tell me they have lost 70 metal baskets on the first day, and it's not that big.

 

[cb a1]

My local Tesco tell me they have lost 70 metal baskets on the first day, and it's not that big.

Same thing happened in Scotland for the first couple of days then everyone got used to it.

 

[Clip]

My local Tesco tell me they have lost 70 metal baskets on the first day, and it's not that big.

Don't replace the baskets - they'll soon learn

 

[Tetchytyke]

I went to the local supermarket yesterday (Asda).
And there was no infomation around on where the bag money goes.
Are they donating or just increasing the profit margin?

The money has to go to charity by law. Asda give their money out to a wide range of community projects, so there isn't one charity to list on the sign.

Asda are also doling out bags for life at 6p. I don't know where the money from those goes.

 

[WestCoast]

Don't replace the baskets - they'll soon learn

I remember when Aldi/Lidl/Netto did not provide baskets, if you didn't get a trolley you either had to hold your items or pick an empty box

The local Asda supermarket near me seems to have removed all the bags off display on the self-scan tills, staff instead holding them. There's a big stand of discounted (6p) strong bags for life though placed near all tills. Tesco hasn't done the same though.
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The money has to go to charity by law. Asda give their money out to a wide range of community projects, so there isn't one charity to list on the sign.

Asda are also doling out bags for life at 6p. I don't know where the money from those goes.

Yes, I imagine they'll choose using the little token boxes. The bags for life are probably not covered, but they probably aren't making much money off them at 6p - considering they are costlier to manufacture/distribute and the customers can get unlimited replacements if/when they break.

 

[AM9]

Waitrose here have removed the erstwhile single-use bags and a new design bag-for-life has appeared. There is also a more substantial bag for 80p on sale at the tills.

 

[Heinz57]

I work in retail and as a bit of feedback from only two days charging for bags I think its already started to make a difference. I used to get people ask for a bag after buying one car air freshener (seriously) but today I haven't even had one person ask for one, even those with multiple items. Maybe the consuming public are already starting to think twice about whether or not they actually NEED a bag.

I know its only two days, but time will only tell for sure...

 

[Amberley54]

Don't replace the baskets - they'll soon learn

At the tesco that I work at we simple attached security tags on the hand baskets. Don't think we lost any.

Feedback from customers was generally very positive except for one idiot who shouted and screamed that it was another EU conspiracy. He calmed down after five minutes and buggered off into the sunset.

 

[northwichcat]

The money has to go to charity by law.

What about supermarkets who already charged for bags, especially ones like Aldi and Lidl who claim they charged for bags to keep the cost of food down?

Asda are also doling out bags for life at 6p. I don't know where the money from those goes.

Bags for Life could actually be given out for free without breaching the new law as they aren't classed as single use plastic bags.

 

[skyhigh]

I was in Tesco this lunchtime, and whilst queuing for the self checkouts noticed someone scan their shopping, put it in the bagging area, pay for it and then re-pack it into the 5p shopping bags sitting by the till followed by walking out of the shop!

It does seem to rely on trust - the till asks you how many bags you took and they didn't check that I used the amount that I said I did, but what else could you do?

 

[pdq]

Just been to Sainsbury's for the first time since charging for bags. I think these new bags are a bit too big and heavy duty. I've always used carriers as bin bags, but the new bags are going to be far too big.

Is there a reason not to charge 10p a shot for these bags, and 5p for the thin, light ones?

 

[AM9]

Just been to Sainsbury's for the first time since charging for bags. I think these new bags are a bit too big and heavy duty. I've always used carriers as bin bags, but the new bags are going to be far too big.

Is there a reason not to charge 10p a shot for these bags, and 5p for the thin, light ones?

Why not just buy proper bin liners which can be as little as 3p each to line your bins, and take a carrier bag or three folded up in your pocket when you go shopping?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just been to Sainsbury's for the first time since charging for bags. I think these new bags are a bit too big and heavy duty. I've always used carriers as bin bags, but the new bags are going to be far too big.

Is there a reason not to charge 10p a shot for these bags, and 5p for the thin, light ones?

I got one of those today and it rang up as "5p bag for life". A dodge to avoid paying the 5p to charity?

Edit: it is also marked up as a bag for life, i.e. replaceable. I wonder what the rationale for doing this is. No other type of bag was available.

Edit edit: The Torygraph seems to confirm that there is some potential dodgy dealing going on.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/sho...f-new-5p-charity-charge-for-plastic-bags.html

 

[jon0844]

I've seen one person carrying a basket home today, a group of students with a trolley a good mile from Asda and an old lady with a Sainsbury’s trolley also a long way from the store.

This was all in the space of about two hours! All of the items in both trolleys were loose, so either they refused to buy bags or they stole the stuff. I'd assume the former!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Actually, thinking on, I am tempted to say I actually support Sainsburys' line. I dislike any mandatory charitable donation on any product however small. I do donate to charity, but want this to be at my discretion, and I think it's more than reasonable that the cost of the bag should come out of the 5p, such that those using no bags pay nothing towards their provision.

Will be interesting to see what Aldi etc do - I imagine theirs will become "bag for life" as well, as otherwise they *lose* the ability to do what they did previously, i.e. charging for bags to pay the cost of them.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Torygraph seems to confirm that there is some potential dodgy dealing going on.

If the "Torygraph" is a somewhat derogatory nickname for a right-wing newspaper, what is the similar-styled nickname that is usually applied to the best-selling left-wing newspaper?

 

[Bletchleyite]

If the "Torygraph" is a somewhat derogatory nickname for a right-wing newspaper, what is the similar-styled nickname that is usually applied to the best-selling left-wing newspaper?

The "Grauniad", you mean?

 

[jon0844]

Aren't sales if the Guardian falling through the floor now? Seems they're asking for donations online now and selling Corbyn related T Shirts and other clothing.

Doesn't its readership think journalists should be paid for producing the content they read and share?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I've seen one person carrying a basket home today, a group of students with a trolley a good mile from Asda and an old lady with a Sainsbury’s trolley also a long way from the store.

Does anyone on this website know of the legal position of taking a wheeled trolley owned by a supermarket off the site of that store and taken a good distance away? I note that in some urban areas where canals pass through, these type of trolleys have often been found during times of drainage or restoration works.

 

[Kilted_Scot]

Lol at this thread. Get a few bags for life and your sorted. If you tear them you get them replaced. Therefore you buy say 5 bags for life at say about 50p each is 2.50. For life.

Seriously though we were already reusing bags before it came in up here and it's not made a great difference. As long as you remember the bags. It's just getting used to it. There might be an odd occasion when you go for a sandwich and juice that you might need to buy a bag but it's few and far between.

Definitely first world problems!

 

[AM9]

Lol at this thread. Get a few bags for life and your sorted. If you tear them you get them replaced. Therefore you buy say 5 bags for life at say about 50p each is 2.50. For life.

Seriously though we were already reusing bags before it came in up here and it's not made a great difference. As long as you remember the bags. It's just getting used to it. There might be an odd occasion when you go for a sandwich and juice that you might need to buy a bag but it's few and far between.

Definitely first world problems!

As I said a few days ago, - it's bringing out the same petulent behaviour as the tungsten lightbulb withdrawl did a few years ago. As was also the case with the mandated removal of poorly designed high-power vacuum cleaners.

 

[Stats]

I got one of those today and it rang up as "5p bag for life". A dodge to avoid paying the 5p to charity?

Edit: it is also marked up as a bag for life, i.e. replaceable. I wonder what the rationale for doing this is. No other type of bag was available.

Sainsburys are quite open about their decision: http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/blog/2015/08/2015/09/roger-burnley-plastic-bag-legislation/

On 5th October, legislation will come into force in England introducing a levy on single-use plastic bags for all large retailers, including Sainsbury’s. Of course this has been happening for some time in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, so many of our customers are already familiar with how this works.

The government was very clear when it proposed this legislation that its primary objective was to protect the environment and reduce the number of bags we all use. At Sainsbury’s we thought about how we could best support these aims and we therefore decided to create a thicker reusable bag which we will sell for 5p and replace it when it wears out. The current, free, single-use bags will be removed from our English stores altogether. Having already done this in Scotland and Wales, we know it radically reduces bag use and we believe this is the most effective way for us to help our customers use fewer bags. Our bags will be better for the environment too – they will be made from 100% recycled materials and will be reusable, and then recyclable again once they have worn out. For our customers that shop online, we are introducing a ‘bagless’ option, which gives them the choice to opt out of using bags all together or be charged a flat rate of 40p for single-use plastic carrier bags.

Although the introduction of our thicker reusable bag will not be subject to the levy, we will still donate all profits from these bags to good causes, this is alongside the levy charged for the single-use carrier bags distributed through online orders. This will be in addition to what we already raise for charity, which last year was £52 million.

We think this is the best way to do the right thing for the environment, whilst still supporting good causes.

Roger Burnley, Director of Retail and Operations

 

[Bletchleyite]

Does anyone on this website know of the legal position of taking a wheeled trolley owned by a supermarket off the site of that store and taken a good distance away? I note that in some urban areas where canals pass through, these type of trolleys have often been found during times of drainage or restoration works.

An interesting question. It's not theft if you intend to return it to the shop within a reasonable timeframe, as theft requires an intent to permanently deprive. I'd imagine it might come down to if the shop isn't happy with it and doesn't have the locking devices, they'd have to ban you or similar.
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Lol at this thread. Get a few bags for life and your sorted. If you tear them you get them replaced. Therefore you buy say 5 bags for life at say about 50p each is 2.50. For life.

They're about 10p, so even less of an issue!

Personally I always tended to buy bags for life (because the free ones were rubbish) each time then use them for other things. So the situation doesn't really change for me.
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As I said a few days ago, - it's bringing out the same petulent behaviour as the tungsten lightbulb withdrawl did a few years ago.

That was an interesting one, as CFLs were and still are a rubbish replacement. Only in the last year or two has LED technology reached the point where it is a true replacement, though those of us sensitive to flicker still suffer from people installing cheap rubbish with a 50Hz pulse. (My house is now LED throughout, but I bought the expensive ones which are indistinguishable from tungsten in their light quality). I have wondered if the 50Hz pulsing ones cause issues for epileptics, and if so if they should perhaps be banned.

OT but: I *really* dislike 50Hz pulsed LEDs on cars as they are *very* distracting on the road, and those *certainly* should not be allowed - use tungsten, or use a proper quality of LED on your premium car - I'm sure buyers of such cars could easily afford 20 quid to upgrade to decent ones.

As was also the case with the mandated removal of poorly designed high-power vacuum cleaners.

That one was silly, as one spends a tiny amount of time per day using one, so it was of almost no benefit, particularly as if one needs to vacuum for longer due to a less powerful machine, no gain is made.

 

[northwichcat]

Aren't sales if the Guardian falling through the floor now? Seems they're asking for donations online now and selling Corbyn related T Shirts and other clothing.

Doesn't its readership think journalists should be paid for producing the content they read and share?

Can't see any evidence of selling Corbyn clothing on their website so I'm guessing you've made that up. You do get a message asking to be a Guardian Supporter for a donation if you're using an ad blocker.

Apparently The Guardian website has a massive audience outside the UK and it's the fifth most read newspaper website in the world, so it doesn't sound like
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I was in Tesco this lunchtime, and whilst queuing for the self checkouts noticed someone scan their shopping, put it in the bagging area, pay for it and then re-pack it into the 5p shopping bags sitting by the till followed by walking out of the shop!

It does seem to rely on trust - the till asks you how many bags you took and they didn't check that I used the amount that I said I did, but what else could you do?

I've noticed Boots and Waitrose stores have removed carrier bags from self service checkouts.

 

[47802]

Been to both Asda and Tesco this week and really not impressed.

Anybody who shops at Marks and Sparks will know that they have charged for carrier bags for some time and the scanned tills they rely on people honesty to select the number of bags they have used.

Now both Asda and Tesco tills seem to be setup the same however they have removed the bags from the tills and now you have to ask the staff minding the tills for a bag which at busy times slows things down considerably, in fact if its still like that next time I go in I intend to complain about it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Apparently The Guardian website has a massive audience outside the UK and it's the fifth most read newspaper website in the world, so it doesn't sound like

That does rather back their point up, though, doesn't it? They aren't buying the print edition, they are reading it online.