On Tue, 02 Nov 2004 12:33:37 GMT, fred wrote:

Don't know if this is just Scotland (seems to be where all the 'best' ideas
are tried out), but B&Q up here has started charging for carrier bags.

I had a little chat with the manager who informed me that it was them
doing their little bit to save the environment:

* By encouraging customers to re-use carrier bags

* By charging over cost price for the bags and donating profits to
environmental schemes

* By acting ahead of proposed legislation to apply penalty taxes to the
sale of carrier bags

I replied that:

* I do re-use carrier bags, to dispose of rubbish, saving the cost/waste of
binbags, and to scoop up dog poop that kind owners fail to clear up next to
my house, but that I object to paying at a rate of 5p per poop for the
privilege.

* If I wish to make a donation to environmental charities, I know where to
find them.

* I'll be happy to lobby my elected rep when the introduction of penalty
taxes for carrier bags is debated in parliament, until then please don't try to
second guess proposed legislation.

I decided I didn't really need the bits & pieces I had collected and left them
for the manager to re-stack on the shelves. I certainly didn't need the 2
large hanks of wire wool that were in the basket getting soaked in the rain
on the way to the car.

Anyone else effected, unimpressed or disinterested?

Totally brilliant idea, should have happened years ago. Personally I
almost always refuse the carrier bags, as I use them for a few
minuites, and chuck them away.

I lived in Switzerland, where such ideas are more prevelant, if I had
my way, the whole country would be doing the swiss levels of
re-cycling the day after I became prime minister. Richard Brunstrooms
"speed pigs" would become the recycling police, with the ability to
issue massive on the spot fines.

The Germans have squads that search your bins that you put out, to
make sure you recycle all the right stuff.

Rick