Charging 5c for plastic bags. The cheek of it!
Apparently the New Zealand government has decided it would be a great idea if we were charged 5c for every plastic carrier bag we use when we shop. As they cause such a lot of environmental damage, taking a gazillion years to degrade and in the meantime making a right old mess of our environment, on the whole it’s a great idea. In countries where the charge is already in force, it has apparently resulted in a huge decrease in the number of bags being used.
So I’m all for it in principle.
But in New Zealand? You see, New Zealand supermarkets do something which can seem very odd indeed, especially for those of us emigrating from the UK. The staff pack your bags for you. This happens in all the main supermarkets except Pak’n’Save (Hence the name – you Pak your own bags – how revolutionary.)
Problem is, by and large, if you go in and buy four items – you will find them packed into 3 bags. It’s horrendous. So, I’m all for the 5c charge, but can we charge the supermarkets for the number of bags they give us? Maybe, just maybe they will learn that you can in fact fill a shopping bag with food, not just stick a bunch of carrots and a chocolate bar in it before grabbing the next one.
To add insult to injury – the 5c goes to the supermarket!
On a similar note, Borders (my favourite bookshop in New Zealand on account of the fact that it has a lot of books in it) started charging 10c for bags. One day my Mum went in and didn’t want to pay (and had her shopping bag). She was also offered an old out-of-date magazine which they were giving away for free. When she asked why Borders wasn’t just recycling the mags, she was told that if customers didn’t take them, they would just be put in the rubbish bins. The irony of the 10c charge to save the environment was lost on the poor staff member.
Saving the environment is good – being silly about it is just –well- silly.
Related posts:
- Apparently I’m not the only one who is slightly cynical about plastic bag charges.
- The joy of a $5 bookshop
- Charging for Bonus Fly Buys
Comments
One Comment on Charging 5c for plastic bags. The cheek of it!
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AJ on
Mon, 1st Feb 2010 3:20 pm
If the supermarkets realy did care about plastic bags the would only use and sell Oxo Biodegradale plastic bags such as eco-pal or The Green One http://www.thegreenone.co.nz
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