Plastics Fabrication

Here several supermarkets sell you a bag for life - 10p gets you a heavy duty plastic bag that they replace when worn/broken. In addition, loyalty card holders get extra points for reusing bags.

I still take free "single use" bags to use again at home for litter from the supermarkets that don't reward me for reusing...else I'd be paying more money and costing the environment more by buying bin liners.

Although I'm not against reusable plastic bins or bags to bring home the groceries, it brings up a few points to ponder. We use reusable bins all the time.

Point 1. These bags are reusable and some are handy to have around the house.

Secondly, would the government endorse the reusable container brought in again and again by the shopper if they knew were it had been, between uses? These containers (sometimes quite dirty) are plopped up on the same surface that my fresh vegetables and groceries are being placed on. I think if reusable is mandated on us, then a shelf for the bin or bag for loading should also be mandated. Keep the food and the reusable containers off of the same surface.

This issue is just like the incandescent bulbs. Although we can save energy and money by using CFL's the incandescents still have their place and should be available for appropriate uses, not banned.

Same goes for plastic shopping bags. Yes I use cloth bags for my groceries. But where I shop they always offer to bag any meat or fish (or liquid soap..) in a plastic bag, and this helps to keep the cloth bags in a clean condition and food separated from any leaky contamination. The plastic bag can be reused as a garbage bag, which I would otherwise buy and use once.

You cannot expect to sell merchandise without appropriate packaging, although I am totally on board to reduce and eliminate what is not necessary. A cloth bag is the best carrier bag for groceries - it's sturdier and way better than plastic. But a few plastic bags are okay, for the purpose best suited. Paper has some applications but as carrier bag it is the worst. So the store should make all types of packaging available for appropriate uses.

Reusable bags were found to be wonderful breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. If you insist using it, at least wash it regularly.

Oh, then there is no saving: less wasted plastic, more wasted water and soap.

On a second thought, keep on using dirty, and save....