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Tackling the bag issue
7:33am Sunday 16th March 2008
Comments (18)THEY been called urban tumbleweed, white pollution and even witches' knickers. Plastic bags are now environmental enemy number one.
Forget 4x4s that guzzle the petrol that contributes so much to global warming. Forget road-building that destroys wildlife habitat. Forget chemical pollution that kills water life.
In the last six months the most important green issue has been carrier bags - the "plastic poison".
The hysteria against them has spiralled so much that a shop girl's polite request of "Would you like a plastic bag, sir?" is now met with reddened faces and mumbled, guilt-laden agreement.
The bag issue has climbed up the agenda since Modbury in Devon was the first to ban such bags last spring. Critics say it is tokenism and that issues such as fuel and energy consumption are more important.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has leapt into action to warn this week in the Budget of anti-plastic bag legislation in 2009 if the use of supermarket bags does not fall.
B&Q is stopping giving free bags at its 320 stores. Marks & Spencer is to start charging and others are expected to follow. All are investigating using bags made of biodegradable or vegetable-based material.
Local businesses big and small are considering how they can adapt. Alresford led the way last summer to introduce an eco-friendly bag for life.
But Hampshire Farmers' Markets look set to bin the idea of banning the use of plastic bags after struggling with the practicalities.
A meeting of stallholders has decided to ditch any ban for the time being.
Chairman David West said the issue was discussed by them on Wednesday night but there was little support for an outright ban. He said: "It is difficult for Hampshire Farmers' Markets to imposes restrictions on what individual traders do."
The meeting recommended instead that signs be placed at the markets stating that customers would not automatically get a bag.
A firm decision will be made at the next board meeting of Hampshire Farmers' Markets in April.
Mr West added: "Stallholders have different requirements. Paper bags would be no good for vegetable producers with heavy fruit and veg in the wet.
"There are issues of cross-contamination. Most meat is pre-packed, but some butchers sell meat in a raw state. It is difficult to insist stallholders charge for carrier bags. We have to try to encourage the public to bring their own."
Market co-ordinator Sarah Read is undertaking research into more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Local authorities have to deal with the issue of plastic bag litter, although in Hampshire such waste is incinerated and use made of the energy created.
A spokesman for Winchester City Council said: "In the grand scheme of things there are a lot of other things to do. But it is a good place to start. We need people to take as many small actions as they can. All the small actions add up."
The trouble is plastic bags have become so ubiquitous since the 1970s because they are so useful.
Banning things can have undesired effects. In Ireland, where plastic bags are heavily taxed, their use has decreased. But people have simply switched to buying other forms of bags for uses such as lining rubbish bins and clearing cat litters.
Andy Steavenson is managing director of Crazybags, the Sarisbury Green plastic bag importer, and a self-described "ogre from hell" in the plastic bag issue. His company imports 15 to 20 million bags a year from China.
"This whole issue is about people needing to find a scapegoat. Everyone in the world has carried a plastic bag. Because they are so popular, the greens have picked on it.
"The product is not harmful. It's not the bag's fault that it ends up in hedges. It's not plastic bags that are killing sea mammals - it's the can holders that are the culprit.
"I do think action against bags is a good thing. But the amount of space given to it is disproportionate to the big picture of global warming."
Mr Steavenson said this year would see major changes. "The supermarkets can't wait to stop giving bags. Think of the money they will save. They only give them out for free because if Tesco don't then Sainsbury's will and vice-versa."
Crazybags does not supply supermarkets but Mr Steavenson said the furore has seen his firm diversifying into importing cotton and jute bags.
He pointed out that the issue is wrapped in hypocrisy. The Daily Mail has led the campaign. "Go to the Ideal Home exhibition in London today and you will be given a Daily Mail plastic carrier bag."
Your Say YourThis is Hampshire
paul b, says...
3:20pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Mick Sterbs, southampton says...
3:42pm Sun 16 Mar 08
the reason we see them in tree's rivers etc is people throwing them away.
Joe, says...
5:51pm Sun 16 Mar 08
There is a penalty law rarely or not all enforced.
Education in schools orientated with the "three R", is neglecting badly the basic rules of our human values: -
Respect yourself, Respect others do help this environment to make it better, for yourself and others.
Sceptic, Waterside says...
6:51pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Joe wrote:Hi Joe, i hate litter....no i really hate litter, but i accept that it is generally from an age group of children who will probably grow out of it but are currently overdosing on the hormones of puberty anyway and therfore not actually 'thinking' about much. BUT.....DOG OWNERS are generally middle aged people who should know better. I am sick to death of getting dog foul on mine and my kids shoes, clothes, cycle wheels etc..it used to be pushchairs!! One day i am going lose my rag and rub the owners nose in it!!! SELFISH F*****S
My disatisfaction is with the litter thrown carelessly and too often willingly by a large number of people, particularly the young ones. There is a penalty law rarely or not all enforced. Education in schools orientated with the "three R", is neglecting badly the basic rules of our human values: - Respect yourself, Respect others do help this environment to make it better, for yourself and others.
huckit P, Winchester says...
6:52pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Racists, says...
7:23pm Sun 16 Mar 08
THEY been called urban tumbleweed, white pollution and even witches' knickers.
Not that I've ever heard those terms in common usage, but "White pollution" ? I find this perjorative link between colour and unwanted waste deeply offensive as a white middle class, able-bodied, affluent and well-educated heterosexual man. I'd like the law changed and compensation provided to me. I would also demand that all public workers master my language, and that the council send out a letter of apology to all my compatriots, written in my native tongue.
seriously...can you imagine the uproar if this was another colour which was faintly similar to someone's skin tones.
btw - "THEY been" ? You mean "They have been" or "They've been" if you must use the casual contraction of the tabloid press.
ex sot'on, Abingdon says...
9:23pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Green Robbie, Soton says...
10:10pm Sun 16 Mar 08
Mick Sterbs, southampton says...
10:21pm Sun 16 Mar 08
plastic bags are fine, we just need make ones that degrade quicker. as for tumbleweed etc we'd stillhave the same problem with paperbags.
Duh, Southampton says...
12:30am Mon 17 Mar 08
The main issue with plastic carrier bags is the chavs use them as a dustbin and don't recycle!
So we come back to the same topic 'CHAVS'. Get rid of chavs and we won't have an issue.
Idiocy, says...
7:10am Mon 17 Mar 08
Duh wrote:Who cares if everyone can see your shopping. Its not a private matter. You've got to be some kind of insecure inverted snob to find that a problem.
I purchased 5 recyclable bags from Asda as I shop there (bags for life). 5p each, when they split or wear out they replace them free and recycle them. Asda had the right idea 2 years ago when they introduced the clear bags. Everyone can see your shopping hence why I purchased the recycling ones.
The main issue with plastic carrier bags is the chavs use them as a dustbin and don't recycle!
So we come back to the same topic 'CHAVS'. Get rid of chavs and we won't have an issue.
Mike Perry, KENT says...
7:22am Mon 17 Mar 08
WHICH IS MADE OF 100% COTTON CAN BE USED UP TO 2 YEARS ,MACHINE WASHABLE,COTTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND WHEN DISCARDED AFTER 2 YEARS WILL DECOMPSE LEAVING ONLY VALUABLE NUTRIENTS. SO PLASTIC BAG IS BAD USE COTTON BAGS.
AS WE ARE MANUFACTURER OF 100% COTTON BAGS AND WILL GIVE 100 COTTON BAGS FREE TO THE FIRST 100 READERS OF ECHO NEWS OR GAZZETTE NEWS PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR DETAILS>>>>
prrymic7@btinternet.
com
www.greencottonbag.c
o.uk
quote
Unimpressed, Hythe says...
8:56am Mon 17 Mar 08
Mike Perry wrote:Are you trying to convert people with your poorly written scream? Try using correct English, properly punctuated and not in capitals, and I may listen to your message.
PLASTIC BAG IS BAD SO,STOP USING IT,USE ONLY COTTON BAGS. WHICH IS MADE OF 100% COTTON CAN BE USED UP TO 2 YEARS ,MACHINE WASHABLE,COTTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND WHEN DISCARDED AFTER 2 YEARS WILL DECOMPSE LEAVING ONLY VALUABLE NUTRIENTS. SO PLASTIC BAG IS BAD USE COTTON BAGS. AS WE ARE MANUFACTURER OF 100% COTTON BAGS AND WILL GIVE 100 COTTON BAGS FREE TO THE FIRST 100 READERS OF ECHO NEWS OR GAZZETTE NEWS PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR DETAILS>>>> prrymic7@btinternet. com www.greencottonbag.c o.ukquote
Fail bags, says...
9:00am Mon 17 Mar 08
Mike Perry wrote:NO, Cotton is NOT environmentally friendly. It is one of the most destructive crops which we waste our land upon. It drinks gallons of water, and the pesticides used to protect the crops cause appalling damage to the wildlife and humans who come into contact with it.
PLASTIC BAG IS BAD SO,STOP USING IT,USE ONLY COTTON BAGS.
WHICH IS MADE OF 100% COTTON CAN BE USED UP TO 2 YEARS ,MACHINE WASHABLE,COTTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND WHEN DISCARDED AFTER 2 YEARS WILL DECOMPSE LEAVING ONLY VALUABLE NUTRIENTS. SO PLASTIC BAG IS BAD USE COTTON BAGS.
AS WE ARE MANUFACTURER OF 100% COTTON BAGS AND WILL GIVE 100 COTTON BAGS FREE TO THE FIRST 100 READERS OF ECHO NEWS OR GAZZETTE NEWS PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR DETAILS>>>>
prrymic7@btinternet.
com
www.greencottonbag.c
o.uk
quote
Readers: BEWARE of the cotton bag trade now trying to make money from this issue.
mike perry, kent says...
11:05am Mon 17 Mar 08
Unimpressed wrote:I AM ONLY OFFERING FREE COTTON BAGS NOT LESSON IN ENGLISH SO,WANNA BAG ASK FOR IT OTHERWISE YOU KNOW WAT TO DO>>>>
Mike Perry wrote: PLASTIC BAG IS BAD SO,STOP USING IT,USE ONLY COTTON BAGS. WHICH IS MADE OF 100% COTTON CAN BE USED UP TO 2 YEARS ,MACHINE WASHABLE,COTTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND WHEN DISCARDED AFTER 2 YEARS WILL DECOMPSE LEAVING ONLY VALUABLE NUTRIENTS. SO PLASTIC BAG IS BAD USE COTTON BAGS. AS WE ARE MANUFACTURER OF 100% COTTON BAGS AND WILL GIVE 100 COTTON BAGS FREE TO THE FIRST 100 READERS OF ECHO NEWS OR GAZZETTE NEWS PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR DETAILS>>>> prrymic7@btinternet. com www.greencottonbag.c o.ukAre you trying to convert people with your poorly written scream? Try using correct English, properly punctuated and not in capitals, and I may listen to your message.quote
Lil Biatch, says...
11:35am Mon 17 Mar 08
mike perry wrote:Mmmm friendly customer service, I really must order from you....
Unimpressed wrote:I AM ONLY OFFERING FREE COTTON BAGS NOT LESSON IN ENGLISH SO,WANNA BAG ASK FOR IT OTHERWISE YOU KNOW WAT TO DO>>>>
Mike Perry wrote: PLASTIC BAG IS BAD SO,STOP USING IT,USE ONLY COTTON BAGS. WHICH IS MADE OF 100% COTTON CAN BE USED UP TO 2 YEARS ,MACHINE WASHABLE,COTTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND WHEN DISCARDED AFTER 2 YEARS WILL DECOMPSE LEAVING ONLY VALUABLE NUTRIENTS. SO PLASTIC BAG IS BAD USE COTTON BAGS. AS WE ARE MANUFACTURER OF 100% COTTON BAGS AND WILL GIVE 100 COTTON BAGS FREE TO THE FIRST 100 READERS OF ECHO NEWS OR GAZZETTE NEWS PLEASE EMAIL US WITH YOUR DETAILS>>>> prrymic7@btinternet. com www.greencottonbag.c o.ukAre you trying to convert people with your poorly written scream? Try using correct English, properly punctuated and not in capitals, and I may listen to your message.quote
Dog owner, says...
2:01pm Mon 17 Mar 08
Sceptic wrote:You shouldn't think all dog owners are irresponsible it's not easy to train a dog to c**p straight into a carrier bag you know!
Joe wrote:Hi Joe, i hate litter....no i really hate litter, but i accept that it is generally from an age group of children who will probably grow out of it but are currently overdosing on the hormones of puberty anyway and therfore not actually 'thinking' about much. BUT.....DOG OWNERS are generally middle aged people who should know better. I am sick to death of getting dog foul on mine and my kids shoes, clothes, cycle wheels etc..it used to be pushchairs!! One day i am going lose my rag and rub the owners nose in it!!! SELFISH F*****S
My disatisfaction is with the litter thrown carelessly and too often willingly by a large number of people, particularly the young ones. There is a penalty law rarely or not all enforced. Education in schools orientated with the "three R", is neglecting badly the basic rules of our human values: - Respect yourself, Respect others do help this environment to make it better, for yourself and others.
A bag litters the shore in Woolston, near the Itchen Bridge
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Sceptic, Waterside says...
12:12pm Sun 16 Mar 08