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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/05/plastic-bag-charges-in-england-will-there-be-chaos-at-the-shops
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plastic bag charges in England: will there be 'chaos' at the shops? | Plastic bag charges in England: will there be 'chaos' at the shops? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Daily Mail warns that “plastic bags chaos looms” and says checkout staff have been given special training to deal with “argumentative shoppers” as England’s new 5p plastic bag charge comes into force on Monday. | The Daily Mail warns that “plastic bags chaos looms” and says checkout staff have been given special training to deal with “argumentative shoppers” as England’s new 5p plastic bag charge comes into force on Monday. |
| Monday's Daily Mail: "Plastic bags chaos looms" #tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCpapers pic.twitter.com/xu6hzDOQft (via @suttonnick) | Monday's Daily Mail: "Plastic bags chaos looms" #tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCpapers pic.twitter.com/xu6hzDOQft (via @suttonnick) |
| The paper says the rules and exemptions could confuse people, hence warnings that checkout staff could face unhappy customers. Navigating the exact rules is somewhat tricky, so here is your guide to making it through any possible retail apocalypse. If in doubt, you could always ask any shopper from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who have somehow managed to survive the charge being introduced there. | The paper says the rules and exemptions could confuse people, hence warnings that checkout staff could face unhappy customers. Navigating the exact rules is somewhat tricky, so here is your guide to making it through any possible retail apocalypse. If in doubt, you could always ask any shopper from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who have somehow managed to survive the charge being introduced there. |
| Related: Can England cope with the bag charge or will there be a bagpocalypse? | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett | |
| When do I have to pay? | When do I have to pay? |
| Staff at major retailers will ask you to pay at checkouts, having been given briefings on how the rules will apply. At self-checkouts, you will be asked to declare how many bags you have used and the charge will be applied. | Staff at major retailers will ask you to pay at checkouts, having been given briefings on how the rules will apply. At self-checkouts, you will be asked to declare how many bags you have used and the charge will be applied. |
| The charge only applies to those “single-use” thin plastic bags – the technical specification is: | The charge only applies to those “single-use” thin plastic bags – the technical specification is: |
| It does not matter how big the bag is, so even those small plastic bags you might be given when you buy your lunch are included. | It does not matter how big the bag is, so even those small plastic bags you might be given when you buy your lunch are included. |
| The law does not actually specify how much the bags should cost, but retailers have been told to charge at least 5p. | The law does not actually specify how much the bags should cost, but retailers have been told to charge at least 5p. |
| If you are getting food delivered from a major supermarket, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco will give you the option of a bagless delivery, or a flat rate of 40p. Morrisons and Ocado are charging 5p for each bag used, but will pay 5p for every bag returned. | If you are getting food delivered from a major supermarket, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco will give you the option of a bagless delivery, or a flat rate of 40p. Morrisons and Ocado are charging 5p for each bag used, but will pay 5p for every bag returned. |
| Unlike in Wales, paper bags in England do not incur a charge – which has angered some campaigners who claim they still cause unsightly littering. | Unlike in Wales, paper bags in England do not incur a charge – which has angered some campaigners who claim they still cause unsightly littering. |
| What if I’m buying food and need to put it in a clean bag? | What if I’m buying food and need to put it in a clean bag? |
| Then the charge does not apply. It specifically does not apply to: | Then the charge does not apply. It specifically does not apply to: |
| However, if another item is put in the same bag, the charge will apply. | However, if another item is put in the same bag, the charge will apply. |
| What about small independents like my local corner shop? | What about small independents like my local corner shop? |
| Tricky to say. They don’t have to but they might anyway. | Tricky to say. They don’t have to but they might anyway. |
| The legislation applies to all types of shops – clothes shops, corner shops, bookstores, etc – but only to retailers with more than 250 employees. However, your local shop might well intend to introduce a charge. | The legislation applies to all types of shops – clothes shops, corner shops, bookstores, etc – but only to retailers with more than 250 employees. However, your local shop might well intend to introduce a charge. |
| Airport shops do not have to charge. | Airport shops do not have to charge. |
| What happens to the money? | What happens to the money? |
| The big retailers are expected to donate the money to worthy causes, and will be asked to report to the government how the money is spent. | The big retailers are expected to donate the money to worthy causes, and will be asked to report to the government how the money is spent. |
| Marks & Spencer has charged 5p for bags since 2007, giving the profits to the WWF and the Marine Conservation Society, as well as education projects in primary schools to promote awareness about marine life. | Marks & Spencer has charged 5p for bags since 2007, giving the profits to the WWF and the Marine Conservation Society, as well as education projects in primary schools to promote awareness about marine life. |
| The Treasury has predicted an income of £19m a year from the VAT charged on the bags. | The Treasury has predicted an income of £19m a year from the VAT charged on the bags. |
| Do plastic bag charges work? | Do plastic bag charges work? |