I recycle old t shirts etc for cleaning rags.Oh, and old socks too - they're ace for cleaning banisters. And I love Chica's tip:
why oh why do they put bananas in a plastic bag,i take the bag off at the checkout and say you can have this as i dont need it.if looks could kill.
Very tempted to try that. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town/large village which has a proper butcher (and yes I go in there to choose the meat and get them to mince it), a proper greengrocer (and I take my carry all bag there) as well as a small farmer's market 3 days a week where I can get veg with mud if I wish! There's also a fantastic fish deli ( http://www.thefishdeli.co.uk/ ) and a regular deli. The farmer's market is held at the local seed merchants/country store (http://tuckers-seeds.com/index.php?route=common/home ) which also sells compost, general gardening stuff and plants from a nearby nursery (http://www.hillhousenursery.com/ ). Oh, and we have a proper old fashioned ironmonger's as well...
All within easy walking distance, except for the nursery. I feel very lucky to be able to lead a quiet old fashioned sort of life.
But as I know this thread's about general moans, mine has to be about the gloomy weather.
That's an enviable lifestyle, figrat. However, I think most people want one stop shopping and go to a supermarket and then take prepackaged fruit and veg becaue it is quicker. I could shop in small shops too, but I can't park free to go to them, or have to walk further with the bags.
Highland Jennie, if it is worth saying once, it is worth saying twice
This thing about packaging; in a supermarket, the cheapest produce is often the un-packaged, but you have to put it in a plastic bag for the checkout; why can't they use brown paper bags as they still do in a lot of street markets (and you can bet those barrow boys have chosen the cheapest option!) Or, because the till personnel need to see the contents, why don't they use cellulose bags, which are very biodegradable. and can be manufactured from easily repeatable crops, not just trees. Though I have to add a rider; I am no scientist and may be innacurate in the details above.
Artjak I live in an area where we have fishmonger, butcher or 2, greengrocers (mainly local produce), hardware shop, cheese shop and a great atmosphere. have to travel for GC/nursery.
I also love it and of course everthing is in small bags not loads of packaging.
I found an online report from the environment agency online. Here's an extract. (Skip it and read the end).
' The environmental impact of all types of carrier bag is dominated by resource use and production stages. Transport, secondary packaging and end-of-life management generally have a minimal influence on their performance. Whatever type of bag is used, the key to reducing the impacts is to reuse it as many times as possible and where reuse for shopping is not practicable, other reuse, e.g. to replace bin liners, is beneficial.The reuse of conventional HDPE and other lightweight carrier bags for shopping and/or as bin-liners is pivotal to their environmental performance and reuse as bin liners produces greater benefits than recycling bags.Starch-polyester blend bags have a higher global warming potential and abiotic depletion than conventional polymer bags, due both to the increased weight of material in a bag and higher material production impacts.The paper, LDPE, non-woven PP and cotton bags should be reused at least 3, 4, 11 and 131 times respectively to ensure that they have lower global warming potential than conventional HDPE carrier bags that are not reused. T. Recycling or composting generally produce only a small reduction in global warming potential and abiotic depletion.'
So, according to the government, it is production, not disposal, of plastic bags that causes pollution and paper bags are no better unless they are used 3 times. Most importantly, recycling makes little difference to global warming!
Hi GG, while I am not educated enough to be able refute the claims made by your Government Dept' . I used to see a lot of wind blown plastic bags pollute my country side , since my government brought in a plastic bag levy this type of pollution has been greatly reduced , I will ask do you pay for your plastic bags that you get in your local supermarket at the point of sale if you don't then try Ireland , for instance I do a weekly shop in Aldi I will get a shopping trolley and fill it with groceries pay for them and fill the boot of my car my neighbours on the other hand will go to there favourite supermarket and unload there shopping into plastic bags at a cost of € 0.80 each ( rich people ) . Until every shopper asks there store owners to use paper bags for food or clothing , plastic bags will still be a blot on all of our Country's lands and yours.If only a hand full of people per week every week learn to recycle eventually it just might catch on .
Derek. Working in a supermarket I have another side. People are really offended by my asking them if they need bags. Comments like what I am I going to use?? If I suggest they bring their own - disbelief. When I say that my employers may charge for bags soon they just say that they will go elsewhere! !
I use my own bags. I know what you mean. But hell, some of those customers are scary!!!
I bought a couple of heavy bags a year ago and still going strong, at one market I get points added for having them, I get mad when the girls reach under their station and throw plastic bags onto the counter they can see my bags why do it. G/G exactly what I have been saying, we mere mortals have no effect what so ever on Global warming but pay throuigh the nose in taxes.
Posts
Wonderboy, I quite agree- that is unacceptable, perhaps a job for trading standards. I like your OTT ending, too, a bit of humour helps a lot.
Still on t shirts and the female shape, I go for baggy and buy a size bigger to get the room I want for my various undulations.
I recycle old t shirts etc for cleaning rags.Oh, and old socks too - they're ace for cleaning banisters. And I love Chica's tip:
Very tempted to try that. I'm lucky enough to live in a small town/large village which has a proper butcher (and yes I go in there to choose the meat and get them to mince it), a proper greengrocer (and I take my carry all bag there) as well as a small farmer's market 3 days a week where I can get veg with mud if I wish! There's also a fantastic fish deli ( http://www.thefishdeli.co.uk/ ) and a regular deli. The farmer's market is held at the local seed merchants/country store (http://tuckers-seeds.com/index.php?route=common/home ) which also sells compost, general gardening stuff and plants from a nearby nursery (http://www.hillhousenursery.com/ ). Oh, and we have a proper old fashioned ironmonger's as well...
All within easy walking distance, except for the nursery. I feel very lucky to be able to lead a quiet old fashioned sort of life.
But as I know this thread's about general moans, mine has to be about the gloomy weather.
That's an enviable lifestyle, figrat. However, I think most people want one stop shopping and go to a supermarket and then take prepackaged fruit and veg becaue it is quicker. I could shop in small shops too, but I can't park free to go to them, or have to walk further with the bags.
Ooh, my OH would give his eye teeth for an old-fashioned ironmonger, they usually have some great things that newfangled DIY stores don't.
Highland Jennie, if it is worth saying once, it is worth saying twice
This thing about packaging; in a supermarket, the cheapest produce is often the un-packaged, but you have to put it in a plastic bag for the checkout; why can't they use brown paper bags as they still do in a lot of street markets (and you can bet those barrow boys have chosen the cheapest option!) Or, because the till personnel need to see the contents, why don't they use cellulose bags, which are very biodegradable.
and can be manufactured from easily repeatable crops, not just trees. Though I have to add a rider; I am no scientist and may be innacurate in the details above.
Artjak I live in an area where we have fishmonger, butcher or 2, greengrocers (mainly local produce), hardware shop, cheese shop and a great atmosphere. have to travel for GC/nursery.
I also love it and of course everthing is in small bags not loads of packaging.
There are supermarkets nearby but not the same
I found an online report from the environment agency online. Here's an extract. (Skip it and read the end).
' The environmental impact of all types of carrier bag is dominated by resource use and production stages. Transport, secondary packaging and end-of-life management generally have a minimal influence on their performance. Whatever type of bag is used, the key to reducing the impacts is to reuse it as many times as possible and where reuse for shopping is not practicable, other reuse, e.g. to replace bin liners, is beneficial.The reuse of conventional HDPE and other lightweight carrier bags for shopping and/or as bin-liners is pivotal to their environmental performance and reuse as bin liners produces greater benefits than recycling bags.Starch-polyester blend bags have a higher global warming potential and abiotic depletion than conventional polymer bags, due both to the increased weight of material in a bag and higher material production impacts.The paper, LDPE, non-woven PP and cotton bags should be reused at least 3, 4, 11 and 131 times respectively to ensure that they have lower global warming potential than conventional HDPE carrier bags that are not reused. T. Recycling or composting generally produce only a small reduction in global warming potential and abiotic depletion.'
So, according to the government, it is production, not disposal, of plastic bags that causes pollution and paper bags are no better unless they are used 3 times. Most importantly, recycling makes little difference to global warming!
So what is the recycling initiative about?
Hi GG, while I am not educated enough to be able refute the claims made by your Government Dept' . I used to see a lot of wind blown plastic bags pollute my country side , since my government brought in a plastic bag levy this type of pollution has been greatly reduced , I will ask do you pay for your plastic bags that you get in your local supermarket at the point of sale if you don't then try Ireland , for instance I do a weekly shop in Aldi I will get a shopping trolley and fill it with groceries pay for them and fill the boot of my car my neighbours on the other hand will go to there favourite supermarket and unload there shopping into plastic bags at a cost of € 0.80 each ( rich people ) . Until every shopper asks there store owners to use paper bags for food or clothing , plastic bags will still be a blot on all of our Country's lands and yours.If only a hand full of people per week every week learn to recycle eventually it just might catch on .
Derek
PS
Forgive me if I sound condescending
I use my own bags. I know what you mean. But hell, some of those customers are scary!!!
I bought a couple of heavy bags a year ago and still going strong, at one market I get points added for having them, I get mad when the girls reach under their station and throw plastic bags onto the counter they can see my bags why do it.
G/G exactly what I have been saying, we mere mortals have no effect what so ever on Global warming but pay throuigh the nose in taxes.
Frank.