posted on Jun, 21 2010 @ 07:25 AM
(If this is the wrong area to put this, I'm not sure where it should go, I apologise)
First off, let me introduce myself to this forum. Greetings, I am ShiningSabrewolf and whilst I've been a member of this site for a while I don't
often contribute much other than to offer my opinions, thougts and on occasion sources to back these up. You may have seen me in some other forums but
this is the first time I've had a proper look at these, which is odd because the Earth and the natural world have always been dear to my heart.
So, more and more it hurts me when I hear people moaning about having to pay for plastic bags here in the UK. I'd like to address this particular
issue, and also I would like to find out about something someone said to me when I mention the bags.
So, first off, I'd like to ask a question of you all-I was told in my workplace by a customer that having to pay for plastic bags was a conspiracy,
not only that but that plastic bags are biodegradable in less than a hundred years? When I asked him where I could find the information that plastic
bags (the old ones they used to give out free) are biodegradable was, he clammed up and wouldn't tell me. So, well, I guess I have two questions:
What is this supposed conspiracy that gets people so angry about having to pay 3-10p for plastic bags?
And
Where can I find the evidence and/or research proving that the old free plastic bags are biodegradable?
Ok, so, now here's the next bit. If these people are aware of conspiracies, then I'd imagine that they know of this site. So, I'd like to cite the
reasons why paying for plastic bags is a good thing, and address the most asked questions and excuses I have heard about them.
I'll start by citing the most asked questions:
1: I'm spending/I've spent x amount in here, so why do I have to pay for a bag?
2: Why do I have to pay when I'm just going to throw it away?
3: I never had to pay for them in X, Y, Z, country, why do I have to pay here?
Well, 2 is pretty easy and I think most people should have figured this out by now: It's so that you don't throw it away. It's so that you
consider alternate things to do with them. They're actually very versatile and useful things, and even if they get horribly dirty then they're very
easy to just wipe off. Plastic bags don't deserve being thrown away after one use, anymore than the environment of our planet deserves to be polluted
by the litter inconsiderate people create.
3 should also be an obvious and self explanatory one, yet we get that at least one a day. You are not in X, Y, Z country, so do the polite
thing and just say 'no' instead of complaining about it.
1 requires a bit more explanation I think. The first way, monetarily. Whether anyone likes it or not, shops are capitalist, and capitalists like to
turn a profit. Because when they turn a profit, they can pay employees, buy stock from wholesalers, pay for maintenance and cleaning, training,
insurance, taxes and perhaps keep shareholders happy, as well as expand by buying up land and building new stores or paying rent for a space. Which of
course they want to expand because then they reach out and get more customers, so more profit etc etc.
So when you buy a product you are paying for all that plus a little more so the company you support can grow and develop. Now, it may come as a
surprise to some but plastic bags do actually cost something to make. You have to make them out of oil for a start, then it all has to be transported
to the stores throughout the country, and they have to pay for the truckdriver, his transport costs, and the bag suppliers (oversimplified, but you
get the point) so, what do you think was happening before?
That's right, they were losing out on money whenever they gave them out, which would have driven prices up due to what companies call 'shrinkage'.
Theft and loss during transport as well as waste all
[edit on 21-6-2010 by ShiningSabrewolf]