Dont use plastic shopping bags!!!!

[shiney]

500 bags, how much shopping do you do Andy?!!

[ina]

We can't get plastic bags in any of the French supermarkets in our vicinity. So what do I do - I have to go out and BUY bl**dy plastic bags to put the cat poo in. Grrrrrr :tongue2:

MMM - I suppose you live in a reasonably rural area. Do you know any farmers? Here at least we have loads and loads of feed bags / fertiliser bags that we are not allowed to burn (but there is no recycling scheme in place - as usual the Government is quick on banning things without putting the systems in place that you need to cope with the ban...) I use those bags for cat poo and any other rubbish; for storing surplus compost or leaves or anything else that comes along. Never have to buy a plastic bag - well, I think I bought a packet of small freezer bags last year, but most of my stuff gets frozen in empty yogurt cartons / margarine tubs etc.

Ina

[Millymollymandy]

I freeze my home made bread in those flimsy plastic bags that you put the fruit and veg in. What do you do about that in the UK supermarkets - the bags I mean, when you pick your own fruit and veg? Or are supermarkets offering paper bags for that now?

Big sacks like compost sacks are a bit dirty/large/take up half the plastic bin bag to use for a single cat poo! They get saved to use for outdoor things. Then the cat litter tray has a plastic liner........ plastic is everywhere.

Oh - ITS RAINING!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry, but that's more important right now than anything!)

Anyway, I can't see how you can exist without plastic bags or clingfilm. Rubbish needs to go in a plastic bin bag to get taken to the communal bins! And guess what half that rubbish is - packaging!!!

[ina]

In supermarkets they still have those flimsy bags, and the organic stuff is ALWAYS pre-packed - simply because otherwise they wouldn't be able to tell the difference at the checkout... But I rarely buy veg at supermarkets, and at the farmshop they've got used to me bringing my own bags. So at least I can re-use the plasticbags that I can't avoid in some places. And as I say, I use feed bags for the rubbish instead of bought black bags. Here the bin men are good like that, they pick up the rubbish however it's packed, I think in some places they are a bit fussier (even rubbish needs to look tidy!)

Clingfilm I haven't had in the house for ages. I was tempted to buy some recently - my pocket watch keeps getting dirty and damp when I'm working, and I thought clingfilm would be a good way to protect it, while still being able to read it! I'll have to ask a friend for a small bit. Again, I use old marge and yogurt tubs or clear plastic bags to protect stuff in the fridge where my friends cover it with cling film. What I find most annoying is that you can get bread only in plastic bags, too. Even if you buy it fresh at the bakers (which I rarely do as there is no decent baker nearby), they put it in a plastic bag, then seal it so that it's difficult to open without damaging the bag! It makes the bread even softer and soggier than it is. But I think if I start turning up at the bakers with my own bag (I used a cloth bag just for that in Germany), I'll start a revolution....

Ina

[Wombat]

Good onya Ina, Go for it!

Nev

[ina]

I'm not much of a revolutionary, Nev... That bloody "good" education is holding me back.

Ina

[greenbean]

Did anyone see University Challenge this week? Me and the OM watch it and compete to see who can get the most questions right, 99% of the time he beats me (he's a bit of a geek). This week, one set of bonus questions was on the use of plastic bags. I got all 3 questions correct and managed to beat the OM hands down. I hope lots of viewers were amazed and horrified at the stats of how many bags are used/dumped/littering our land.
Here in Scotland the 10p per bag levy is getting a lot more press, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce are addressing this issue right now.

[Muddypause]

I was very pleased to see that The Idler magazine beat the Financial Times.

I've never seen a copy of The Idler, but it sounds just up my street. That is, until I visited their website and found it costs £10 an issue.

What the hell is it made of?

[greenbean]

Ha ha, yes me too. I beat the FT was quite surprised. £10 an issue. seems rather ridulous.

[ina]

I don't know the Idler, but is it one of those rare print products without advertising? That would explain the cost.

Ina

[greenbean]

http://www.idler.co.uk/
Here is the web link. I find the website lacks information, maybe they are too idle to update it?!

[Muddypause]

Heh! Since I looked at it two days ago, it's suddenly become 'Under Construction'. I guess that could take ages.

The Wikipedia entry tells you more.