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Unfortunately, they disintegrate into radioactive dioxin.
...or something.
The real problem is that the bags are biodegradable, but the plastic isn't
The "biodegradable" plastic bags are made of a mixture of plastic particles and a biodegradable substance (cellulose, I think). When the cellulose degrades, the physical bag is gone, but the particles of plastic remain.
Although "out of sight, out of mind" to such majestic beings as ourselves and the Co-op, these particles then end up being ingested by smaller organisms such as earthworms and insects, and even unicellular beings such as amoebae, with undetermined consequences for the ecosphere
I love all these plastic bags. They are so useful. For instance I never buy bin liners, as was the case when I have worked in plastic bag averse countries. In Ireland bin liner usage has increased 4 fold since the ban.
In my local Sainsburys yesterday they decided they would hide the free carrier bags in some kind of attempt to preach to the customers on global warming.
The patronising little cow on the till asked if I wanted to "buy a bag for life?"
No thanks I said as the shopping was pilling up, "can I have some carrier bags please?"
By the look of distain on her face you think I'd said "can I have a tulip on the conveyor belt?"
The patronising barstewards
Alleviate your guilt by reading what DEFRA says about this:
We don't think a ban or a levy is the right way to go," said a Defra spokeswoman.
Ireland introduced a "plastax" of about 30 cents (20p) on each bag in 2002 and there has been a 90% reduction in use.
But the Defra spokeswoman said the tax had led to people buying more plastic bin liners, which were even worse than carrier bags.
Interestingly, since the budget, the (very good) article on the DEFRA site criticising a levy on plastic bags is harder to find than newer articles saying what a great idea it is.
Why's it so difficult to make them out of recyclable plastic? There would be no issue then.
Unless the supermarkets are using it as an excuse to make some money charging for them. You only need to look at the amount of overpackaging supermarkets already supply to see their green intentions are ultimately driven by profit.
In my local Sainsburys yesterday they decided they would hide the free carrier bags in some kind of attempt to preach to the customers on global warming.
Nope it's nothing to do with that.
Supermarkets have been warned the if they don't get the number of bags they give away down, then Gordon Brown will introduce a new law to ensure they do in the next budget.
Hence M&S are giving away free bags during this month with your shopping and will start charging for them next month.
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