Come on England GET WITH THE PROGRAMME!!!
I simply can’t believe that recent press articles indicate that England (and the English?) still have a prehistoric attitude to the use and free issue of plastic bags.
We’ve been charged for them by our shopowners for years now, and yes, I originally thought it a cheek and another “stealth” or “green” tax but it isn’t!
The nominal charge ( ± 2p here, which apparently goes to plastic recycling initiatives) is enough to make most averse and resentful to buying them, so we take our own!
And what an improvement to the environment, almost overnight the unsightly discarded plastic bags disappeared from our roads, parks, neighbourhoods and of course the countryside.
Of course we haven’t totally eliminated our reliance on them, I actually had to buy one yesterday ((Grrrr!!!) My carboot supply had been exhausted without my knowledge)
Handy tip on next page….. 
We fold ours into small, handy, pocket / handbag size triangles using the handles as a fold over to prevent them opening and getting in the way.
In fact why wait for the government to force the issue, start recycling the things right now and with all the imaginary money you’ve saved by the end of the month have a drink on me!
Boadicea's Chariot 
We pay 22p per bag (if we buy one which is never!) 🙂
Môre Jay
Precisely, you “never” buy them and like me I assume that there’s no inconvenience to you or yours? The sun still rises, England continue to win test matches (until they play us that is) and the environment is better for it 🙂
To be fair, many supermarkets in the UK, offer a discount if you bring your own bags. Also, I suspect that the Breeetish have a healthier regard for the environment than our indigenous brethren on this continent. One of the truly disappointing aspects of Zimbabwe is the level of litter there. (I am in Cape Town at the moment.) There seems to be an attitude that by chucking litter onto the road, they are creating jobs, as somebody has to pick it up. The truth is nobody picks it up except teams of volunteers organised by the persecuted minority.Incidentally, one pays for bags in Zim as well.
Litter down here was a serious problem, particularly discarded ‘plastics.’
I recall when the design of our number plates was being discussed and this one finally decided upon some wag wrote to the paper and asked why there were no ‘plastics’ hanging from the aloe? He even invented a name for it Asphodeplasticus or similar 🙂
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still litter here but nothing near the scale it used to be.
I too have been rather startled by the resistance in England. Mind you it is a pretty mucky place these days!
Wales has been charging for some time and everyone is well used to having to bring their own. Bellingham is the same here too and has been for a couple of years now.
I am the ‘proud owner’ of a set of hessian bags displaying a family of Welsh dragons!
I regret to say that there is a tremendous difference when one crosses the Severn into Wales. I cannot understand why England is so mucky and dirty, I do wish they would clean it up a bit, embarrassing place these days.
I hoard any plastic bags I do get for further malefactions from the dogs!
I totally fail to comprehend any human that thinks littering is acceptable along with the attendant deaths of wild animals and fish. Disgusting creatures ought to be shot. but then most of them should never have been borne in the first place!