Selfsufficientish.com

The Daily Mail are running a campaign to ban the bags - plastic carriers that is.

They're also selling Eco bags (sadly with the DM logo on them).

Can you guess what supermarket is the only one to have NOT agreed to ban the bags?

yup

there are those who insist that they need lots of bags to tie up their rubbish - I despair

on a happier note I have just aquired some very strong fabric samples through freecycle - so I shall be making some patchwork bags soon

i work in a nationwide off license and recently we've been bestowed with biodegradable bags proudly proclaiming that they are doing their bit for the environment - however instead of delivering them in the nice recyclable cardboard box that our previous bags came in.......they are sent to us in non recyclable shrink wrap. *bangs head against brick wall* the sooner carrier bags are banned the better. i almost have a fit everytime somebody asks for their bottles to be double bagged.

snapdragon wrote:yup

there are those who insist that they need lots of bags to tie up their rubbish - I despair

Thank you, thank you - this binliner business is one I've never understood about the Brits - why do you all have to double wrap you rubbish before it goes in the skip?

ina wrote:

snapdragon wrote:yup

there are those who insist that they need lots of bags to tie up their rubbish - I despair

Thank you, thank you - this binliner business is one I've never understood about the Brits - why do you all have to double wrap you rubbish before it goes in the skip?

nottaclue ina - for a good few years we had to put ours in black bags provided by the council - but now we revert to solid bins I don't have to put any plastic into the landfil - I still wish they'd burn the gash and re-use the heat though, and there are ways, I'm sure, of re-burning the smoke to make it less of a nuisance

oops sorry I've derailed the thread a bit and got on me soapbox again

snapdragon wrote: oops sorry I've derailed the thread a bit and got on me soapbox again

Hey, that's my soap box!

Anyway - most people I know use binliners (plastic shopping bags or extra bought binliners), and then stick them in black bags, which go into the bins.... Argh!
I noticed once that the bin men didn't actually tip up the bins as they should do, but just took out the black bags. So I asked the council, why we still had to use bags when we were now supplied with bins: the bin men are supposed to properly empty the bins, but it's easier for them to just take out the bags - so that's what they'll do when the rubbish is bagged up. With the result that they often leave the bins half full, as they only take out the bags on top, and ignore the loose rubbish below it...

My Mother proudly declare that she is stock-piling free carrier bags for when they aren't free any more...

I honestly was speachless... thing is, this is one of her lesser faults... she doesn't 'believe' in Organic, she buys the cheapest most discusting meat and animal products (I despair for the lives of the poor animals), I could go on... but I feel ill just thinking about it

[quote="Annpan"]My Mother proudly declare that she is stock-piling free carrier bags for when they aren't free any more...


If bags are degradeable won't be much left in 6 months.

Annpan wrote:My Mother proudly declare that she is stock-piling free carrier bags for when they aren't free any more...

I honestly was speachless... thing is, this is one of her lesser faults... she doesn't 'believe' in Organic, she buys the cheapest most discusting meat and animal products (I despair for the lives of the poor animals), I could go on... but I feel ill just thinking about it

Difficult to teach an old hand, isn't it! Because OF COURSE she knows better than you, after all she's your mum...

I don't know. Give her the SSish bible for Christmas, maybe.

I can think of other things I'd rather give her for Christmas - most of them would get me time in jail though... so it is probably not worth it

ina wrote:

snapdragon wrote:yup

there are those who insist that they need lots of bags to tie up their rubbish - I despair

Thank you, thank you - this binliner business is one I've never understood about the Brits - why do you all have to double wrap you rubbish before it goes in the skip?

We don't have wheeliebins, so we have to leave our rubbish out in the bags at the end of the road as they can't pick them up from outside our house.

We use the black binliners in the kitchen bin and put them straight out when they're full (usually about every 3 or 4 weeks!!) but I don't bother lining any other bins in the house.

is this the same daily mail that also had a campaign running to reinstate weekly bin collections? Methinks a bit of bandwagon jumping is going on here...

You are quite correct. The daily mail has a habit of jumping on the nearest bandwagon.

At least this time they've backed a decent one!

I never understood the issue with the fortnightly bin collections - its not actually like that. We have the fornightly collectione here. Week one they collect non-recyclables. Week 2 they collect plastic and paper, week 3 they collect non-recyclables, and week 4 they collect compostables.

So, although the non recyclables are collected every fortnight, there is still a collection every week...

Well just to upset the applcart here I don't mind the plastic carry bags. If they are degradable then why are we having hissy fits over them? By the end of this year apparently plastic carry bags will be illegal in this country.
I use personally use the calico ones I make myself but I need plastic bags for rubbish as it is a health concern on my property. I simply cannot afford to have loose rubbish hanging around the property. My god the rats would come in droves.

but just a question what about the medical plastic bags and those that hold industrial wastes? should we do away with those?

Degradable bags ar preferable to the ones that are non-degradable, but not as good as biodegradable.

The problem with the bags is that once they're thrown away (either into landfill, or out of car windows...) they become a hazard for the local...and global wildlife.

Degradable bags are just as lethal inside the stomach of a whale as non-degradable.

Medical bags will still be available, but personally, i'd rather see all medical waste incinerated in sharps-style bins. At least that way they will definitely not leak, and there is less risk of contaminating either the person that picks them up, or the nearest wildlife.