New World - Plastic Bags

Why go to the hassle of charging 5c per bag at the start of August and then going back to 'business as usual' after a month?
No indication was given at the start that they would be reverting.
Just seems a bit silly to me as I thought them charging for bags was a good thing!

Personally I think all plastic bags should be taxed.
This was done in Ireland in 2002 with amazing success, reducing the usage by 90% in months and generated millions for the government by the 15c that was charged on all bags.

But that's just me

Completely agree (I say with a cupboard fill of plastic bags )
But, I think they should banned all together. There is no need for them! I'm actually more disgusted with the publics response, I mean seriously 5c or 15c for a plastic bag really isn't breaking the budget!

I was watching Breakfast yesterday morning and Paul and Ali were talking about it.
The Wellington NWs stopped charging because of the public outcry. Their customer loyalty won out.

Ours still charges, but we use the re-usable bags.

*eta: Having said that, I don't think many staff are overly happy at charging for bags. On the few occasions we've needed to use plastic (for one or two things) they've neglected to charge us - I blame it on the cute baby in my trolley


Edited by MamaPickle

Yeah the rest of the NI and the SI pay for them. I can't believe they caved in, think it's time people took a bit more of a hard line about it. It's not that hard to keep a couple of reusable bags in the car is it?

I don't know why people have made such a fuss over it. Whats a little extra 30c or so? Not like it's going to break the bank.

I love the new re-usable bags! I only have to use 3 for each weekly shop, rather than a million different plastic bags. It's so stupid that they gave in to customers complaining. They need to grow some balls!

oh don't start me on this..i get so mad when they say how many plastic bags would you like? i mean really... I don't know.. and then it takes a while at the end as they count the bags...I need a sign saying ' however many bags are needed' ....she said to me countdown do charge..I'm like no sorry they don't 'yes they do' she said in a huff...well my one doesn't further away but worth it:)

i saw the breakfast thing too..it's up to individual NW's in welly so some might and some might not.

The trouble with reusables is I always forget to take them. I have some, and had no problem buying them - they are pretty cheap. But I have endless problems remembering to (a) put them in the car, and (b) take them into the supermarket with me. So a council delivered set really wouldn' t help me at all!
That said, I have no problem paying for them either all the times I forget my reusables. I haven't thrown a plastic bag out in years - I obviously don't shop enough! I never have enough for lining my rubbish bins or for the recycling etc. In Palmy recycling goes out in supermarket bags, and you need one for cans, one for plastics etc... I ended up stealing bags from mum's house all the time cos I never had any.
I often shop at PaknSave anyway (but NW is on the way home), and for years I had no car so had to pack my groceries very efficiently to carry them home. I have no problems figuring out how many bags I need!

I have a very cute reusable bag that I bought for $7.50 that rolls up into a nice small roll and will fit in my handbag.
When unrolled it goes from armpit to bum


As for phonebooks I never use them. Why flick through a 600+ page book when we have yellow/white pages .co.nz

I agree !

Couldn't the supermarkets provide a bin full of used plastic bags for customers to use if they forget their re-usable ones?
Although I guess that wont be too hygienic...

I have about 12 reusuables that are in my boot, I put all my food in the trolley and pack my bags once I get to the car. Still have a draw full of plastic bags!