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DEFRA thinks we are all idiots

Drum roll, please, for the new 'get a bag habit' nagging campaign:

Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said:..."Retailers and the public have already made great steps in the right direction, and I think if we really can 'get a bag habit' and remember to reuse our bags, it puts us on the right track to doing even more to reduce the amount of waste we're sending to landfill."

...

Jane Milne, BRC Business Environment Director, said:

"Customers have done a great deal to help us reduce the number of carrier bags issued each year by over a quarter. Now, we all need to redouble our efforts to reach our target of halving new bag numbers by this May. Let's all 'get a bag habit'! "

And in the best traditions of Viz, they have some top tips, disclosed via a Yougov survey:

"YouGov polled almost 2,500 shoppers who had their own 'top tips' for remembering to re-use their carrier bags. Of those who re-use their carrier bags for shopping, 49 per cent keep them in the boot of the car -- the most popular tip. This is followed by keeping them in handbags (29 per cent), having a bag caddy by the door (21 per cent) and hanging them on the back door (16 per cent). The survey found that 88 per cent of those questioned had up to 40 disposable carrier bags hoarded at home".

I don't have a car, I don't have a handbag and I value matters of interior design. If I am going shopping, I forsee that things will be bagged, rather it is a question of whether I can be bothered. Also, not having bags denies one the simple pleasure of non-plussing till jockeys at charging stores by turning bags inside out - 'well, no free advertising for you then'.

Anyway, the patronising bit, over at Directgov's 'get a bag habit' page:

"But have you noticed there’s one place where you never have a carrier bag? It’s when you’re out shopping. You get to the checkout and suddenly realise you’ve forgotten your bags again....We know it’s difficult, but please try not to forget your bags when you go shopping. It doesn’t matter what type of bag you re-use either: a bag for Life, a canvas bag, or just an ordinary plastic carrier bag, as long as you take a bag shopping with you...It doesn’t matter whether you are doing your large, weekly shop, or simply popping to the local convenience store for bread and milk; always take your bags with you".

Feeling murderously angry yet?

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 at 11:28 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.

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Blogger Newmania said... 11:45 am

Nearly , loved the Brown Knotting post ... superb stuff  



Anonymous Anonymous said... 12:37 pm

Nowadays I always ask for extra bags at the checkout, and put one or two items in each just to annoy the eco-freaks.  



Blogger JuliaM said... 4:37 pm

I was feeling murderously angry before this. Now, I'm feeling positively psychopathic....  



Blogger Croydonian said... 5:17 pm

Paul - cheers.

Anon - very waggish.

Julia - oh dear. Sorry for hiking your blood pressure.  



Anonymous Anonymous said... 9:32 am

Turning the bags inside out, so as not to give them advertising?

Ohmigod.

They keep spare tinfoil hats at the checkouts for people like you.

I mean, please.  



Blogger Croydonian said... 10:37 am

Anon @ 9.32 - That's me told.  



Blogger Ruari C said... 11:35 am

Some supermarkets in France force this upon you already - although at least that's not the government telling you to do it.

If you wish to have a carrier bag, you have to pay for it, and they only seem to sell the bag-for-life ones. That makes a lot more sense than this... jeez...  



Blogger Croydonian said... 11:38 am

I tend to think of it as a tax on single blokes, as we are the least likely to hoard bags. At least that would be appear to be the case, anecdotally.  



Blogger Jon said... 12:45 pm

I earned a most satisfactory sour look from an adipose checkout lady when she asked me: "Do you want a Bag for Life?"

"No thanks," I said, "I'm already married."  



Blogger Croydonian said... 4:01 pm

Dennis - That is good. I'll see if I have the cojones to use it myself.  



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