Gerard Nugent, of McBride’s Spar Shop in Enniskillen finding people are bringing their own plastic bags gkfh42
THERE has been a marked trend in plastic bag usage since the introduction of the 5p levy three weeks ago.
Declan McCabe, SuperValu Store, Newtownbutler said he had noticed a ‘definite’ reduction in bags going out.
“A lot of our customers are buying a ‘bag for life’ at 10p which they can make multiple use of. I think as time goes on, people will get more alert and bring in their own bags. This week, more so than last week, that seems to be the case.
“I suppose the fact the levy has been in the south for quite a while, it helps in a border location like ours.”
But, Peter McBride, who operates a string of Spar stores in Enniskillen and other locations, said the levy was discouraging people coming into his shops to buy a single item from buying more.
“It’s OK for the big stores where you plan to spend so much and you bring a bag with you, but in our case, while the shopper might otherwise buy a second item, they need a bag and, rather than paying for a bag, they leave it.”
And, he is also annoyed at the DoE for leaving retailers all the paper work to do.
“We have to pay for the bags ourselves so, even though we have a reduced amount going out, they’re still a cost to the business and the customer has to pay that money to the department. It is bizarre. We don’t get an allowance for the bags we give out.”
A spokesman for Asda said their stores had recorded a 98% reduction in the number of ‘single use’ plastic bags requested at the tills.”
She added: “While this is a result of government policy, Asda has been working closely with its colleagues and customers to prepare them for them changes, and our efforts are paying off.”
At Swifts SuperValu, Lisnaskea, we were told: “There’s a right few men who have the bag in their back pocket whereas the women leave them in the car.
“But, it’s going OK. Yes, there has been a reduction in bags going out and there’s more people bringing in their own. They’re getting used to it.”
McBriens in Irvinestown reported a ‘less than half’ reduction in the number of plastic bags going out.
“People are not too bad . I think they understand that this isn’t the retailer’s idea. If they’re short a bag, they are quite happy to pay.”
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