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beattie 9 years, 2 months ago.
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I read this interesting article on the Beeb’s website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25240097It reports on the proposals to charge 5p for single use plastic bags – and the exemptions to the charge. Some make sense, others seem a bit odd. Why should prescription drugs get a free plastic bag? Our local chemist dispenses them in paper bags.
Plastic carrier bags are to be charged for in shops with more than 250 employees, unless the customer is buying “items from a long list of exemptions, including: uncooked fish, meat and poultry products, unwrapped blades and “live aquatic creatures in water”.
Also included are flowers, bulbs, potatoes and prescription drugs.
The exemptions also apply to unwrapped food for human or animal consumption, such as chips and food sold in containers that could leak.
However, if even one non-exempt item is placed in the bag, cashiers must charge 5p.
The guidelines explain: “For example, you wouldn’t charge for a bag containing an unwrapped blade and unwrapped loose seeds, but adding a box of cornflakes means you’d have to charge.”
As comical as it sounds, the new charge could have serious consequences: retailers who fail to detect shoppers who need to pay for their plastic bags could face fines of up to £5,000 if they are caught by local authority inspectors.”
And what IS a plastic carrier bag, anyway? “It must be made of plastic, be unused, have handles and be 70 microns thick or less.”
Info above from The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rules-on-5p-plastic-bags-likely-to-lead-to-arguments-at-the-checkout-10478570.html
The company seems to be able to choose which charity the 5p per bag levy goes to.
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