Friday 30 September 2011

Bag It!

5p bag charge begins tomorrow in Wales!
Have you got your bags at the ready?!
So, The Carrier Bag Charge Wales Project will be introduced tomorrow. This means a new law that requires all retailers in Wales to charge customers 5p to purchase a carrier bag, which includes all bags made from plastic, paper and even bio-degradable materials. 
Wales is the first nation in the UK to introduce the law, but the Welsh Assembly hopes that the new rules will be as successful here as they are in Ireland, which has seen a whopping 90% reduction in the use of carrier bags since a similar law was introduced there.
But, according to reports from the BBC, the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales is concerned that not all retailers fully understand the new rules. There are different rules for different products and circumstances - for example loose fruit and veg are exempt from the charges.
Retailers are also being asked to keep a record of bags sold and revenue taken, as some of the proceeds will be donated to charity, and all businesses will need to account for this. And there could be steep penalties for businesses that don't comply, with fines of up to £5,000.
But, the main aim of the whole campaign is to encourage shoppers to re-use and recycle their own bags, which will have a hugely positive impact on the environment and litter.
So far at the Oakeley Arms, we haven't had any requests for a pint of our Oakeley Dokeley beer in a plastic bag, but you never know!
So what do you think?
Are you a retailer who thinks it's a great thing, or will it affect your business in a negative way?
Are you a shopper who always forgets to take bags with you? Or have you got any tips for bag recycling!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!
For more information, have a peek at the Carrier Bag Charge Wales website.

Image by  Katerha (Flickr)

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