Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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vickersdc
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Packaging & supermarkets...Hi, listening to the radio this morning, they were talking about the potential of a 'rubbish tax' (as it were). I don't have too many problems with the idea, apart from 2 things...
1) we already pay council tax, which includes rubbish collection
2) we don't appear to have much say over the packaging used in supermarkets and so on. But, I heard once that there is a law or regulation or some such thing, that says that we can remove packaging from items bought and give it back to the supermarkets to deal with.
Is this true? Was I just hearing things? If it's true, and the tax comes in, it strikes me that all we need to do is remove the packaging and give it back to the shops! Result, little or no rubbish tax and it'll force the shops to take more notice of packaging.
Cheers,
David.
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Behemoth
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1) it would be a different way of paying for the service rather than an additional charge.
2) don't buy stuff that';s overly packaged. 
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gil
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Certainly heard of people removing supermarket packaging in the shops after going through the tills, but don't think there's a 'right' to do so. More that it's not wrong to.
What Behemoth said : buy less-packaged food.
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vickersdc
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Oh don't get me wrong - we don't use the freebie plastic bags and I don't agree with them giving them out anyway. We don't put fruit in those plastic bags either - it's got a skin, it's wrapped by nature! Why do they insist on shrinkwrapping peppers, cauliflowers, etc.?
But, other things seem to be a nightmare to get in to and you have to wonder why so much packaging is used - a particular nightmare is that thick moulded plastic that has a seam all the way around, with no easy way to open it. In fact, generally you need either a very sharp knife, garden shears or one of my chainsaws to open the packaging!
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Rob R
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I bet it'd stop a chainsaw 
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vickersdc
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| Rob R wrote: | | I bet it'd stop a chainsaw |
You've obviously done battle with it before too!
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Rob R
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Kevlar obviously have the Supermarket contract 
This sorts it out though 
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wellington womble
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I've got one of those knives and it's brilliant. Himself got one cheap from the plumbers merchants for me, and it's truly ace. Very sharp though.
Don't worry - if there's a rubbish tax every single supermarket will jump on the band wagon with a 'we're working harder to cut packaing than they are' slogan.
Also, there are other ways to buy things - my box scheme packs everything in paper bag or bidegradable 'plastic' bags. Having just moved, I'm back on the supermarkets, but the difference in the rubbish bin is noticable!
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