Just one simple question can see you walk out of the store with a new one for free
For a number of years now, retailers of any size have had to charge a minimum of 10p for single-use carrier bags in England.
It followed Wales introducing a mandatory 5p charge in 2011, while Northern Ireland and Scotland followed suit in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The impact was significant, with plastic bag usage pluemmting by more than 98 per cent, and more than 7 billion harmful plastic bags not being used.
The average person in England now buys just two single-use carrier bags a year from retailing giants Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s. That is compared with around 140 in 2014 before the charge was introduced.
But an interesting quirk in the law means that customers can actually have bags for life for free – if you know what to ask for. Speaking about Asda, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s, Jordon Cox – also known as CouponkidUK – explained: “Did you know if your bags for life from one of these supermarkets split or get damaged, you can take it back to the customer service desk and get a brand new one? They recycle the old one, and you get a new one for completely free.”
“Round up all your battered ones at home, and take them all back at one time… saves you multiple trips,” he continued.
What does the law say?
The Government website explains: “Retailers of any size (large, medium, small, micro and airport retailers) must charge a minimum of 10 pence for single-use carrier bags in England. You can be fined if you do not charge.
“Only large retailers are required to record and report the number of single-use carrier bags they sell in England. A large retailer employs 250 or more full-time equivalent employees (in total and not just in retail roles) in a year.
You must charge if you:
- sell goods in England
- deliver goods to England
As a retailer you must charge for:
- non-reusable bags (single-use carrier bags)
- bags used for collections and deliveries
You do not need to charge an extra 10 pence if you already charge 10 pence or more for bags.
Bags you charge for
You must charge a minimum of 10 pence a bag (including VAT) for single-use carrier bags that are all of the following:
- unused – it’s new and has not already been used for sold goods to be taken away or delivered
- plastic and 70 microns thick or less
- it has handles, an opening and is not sealed
Monitor self checkouts
You must do all you can to make sure that you charge for bags at self checkouts. For example, the checkouts ask shoppers how many bags they used and charges for them.
Bags you’re not required to charge for
Some bags are exempt – you do not have to charge for these, but can if you want to.
You do not have to charge if the bag only contains certain items, but if you add other items then you must charge.
For example, you’re not required to charge for a bag containing an unwrapped blade and unwrapped loose seeds. But if you add a box of cornflakes then you would have to charge.
Returnable bags and bags for life
You’re not required to apply the 10 pence charge for:
- woven plastic bags
- multiple reuse bags (bags for life), when replacing free of charge, if originally sold for 10 pence or more
You can still charge for these bags but you do not need to record sales and proceeds as you do with single-use carrier bags.
A returnable multiple reuse bag must be all of the following:
- sold for 10 pence or more
- suitable for reuse
- replaced free of charge if returned to you when worn out
Donating the proceeds
Once you’ve deducted reasonable costs, it’s expected that you’ll donate all proceeds to good causes, particularly environmental causes.
Since the government introduced the charge:
- it has generated nearly £190 million for good causes
- the number of single-use plastic carrier bags used in the main supermarkets has fallen by over 7 billion, a reduction of over 95%
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
