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Sainsburys penny back scheme dropped - proof that in the UK we don't give a fuck.

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Really old news this - but I only found out about it by chance shopping at Sainsburys last night. What really annoys me is that they still advertise the fact on their bags about how environmentally sound they are, and that they will give you a penny back on your bags. I mean, fuck - it seems every other country in the EU recognises the problem and has a tax on carrier bags, WAKE UP BRITAIN.

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Sainsbury's bins Penny Back bag scheme

Rupert Jones
Thursday July 29, 2004
The Guardian

The supermarket group, J Sainsbury, has quietly ditched a green scheme that encouraged cutomers to re-use plastic bags and at the same time raised money for charity, it emerged yesterday.

The chain has been running the "Penny Back" scheme since 1991, and over the years has given back millions of pounds to shoppers who use their own carrier bags rather than those provided by stores.

The scheme formed a key part of the company's drive to reduce the amount of packaging used. Customers were given a penny back for every bag they re-used, and many people put the cash into charity boxes at the tills. These donations often resulted in cheques for several hundred pounds to local charities.

But during the past few days, Sainsbury's customers loading up their bags at the checkout have discovered that the flow of pennies has stopped because the scheme has been abandoned. A spokeswoman for the chain confirmed it had decided to bring the scheme to an end because "very few" customers were using it.

The past few months have been difficult for the retailer - it has issued two profit warnings and has recently appointed a new chairman and chief executive - and some customers will wonder whether the axing of the scheme is a cost-cutting measure introduced by new chief executive Justin King. However, the spokeswoman said: "This was decided before Justin King came on board."

The scheme operated alongside the Sainsbury's "Bag for Life" initiative and worked by refunding a penny per bag if people reused old carriers or brought along their own cloth bag. The Penny Back initiative was highlighted in the group's 2003 environment report and the company gave back £678,000 to customers in 2000-01 alone - an amount equivalent to 67m carrier bags.

Sainsbury's has acknowledged that many customers are keen for it to reduce the business's impact on the environment and it has a target to reduce packaging used on its own-brand products by 5% relative to turnover by 2005.

The spokeswoman said fewer than than 2% of customers used the scheme. Many people had requested facilities for recycling bags so it had decided to enhance the recycling points in stores. The collecting boxes at tills would stay and the money raised as a result would continue to go to local charities, she said.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't even know that this existed!! Some tescos have carrier bag recycling points outside their stores. I think is a far better idea!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

1) I never actually even *knew* about this scheme, so it's hardly the consumers' fault, is it?

2) If I didn't get plastic bags from Sainsburys, I would actually have to *buy* garbage bags! How wasteful would that be?

― Danger Whore (kate), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah I think it was more a problem with the scheme - because who really wants a penny back, when it comes down to it? I used to give my carrier bags to Infinity Foods but I'm not sure they take them any more. Now I try to use a backpack, and a lot of my shopping comes in paper bags anyway. I use the plastic and paper bags I DO get at least once more, usually.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:26 (twenty-one years ago)

A plastic bag levy was introduced here (Ireland) a couple of years ago. As far as I can tell, it's been fairly successful. I very rarely see someone buy plastic bags at checkouts, most bring canvas or old plastic bags now. I think the charge is 15c - not a huge amount but just enough to make people think about it.

Remembering to take some kind of bag when going shopping becomes habitual quite quickly I found.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:30 (twenty-one years ago)

i religiously re-used sainsburys bags, even making a big kerfuffle about shaking them out in front of the cashier and they'd still not give me my penny back.

> Some tescos have carrier bag recycling points outside their stores. I think is a far better idea!

re-cycling something is a lot worse than re-using stuff because of all the energy that is needed to break them down and turn them into something new.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:31 (twenty-one years ago)

So we shouldn't bother re-cycling anything no?

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, Reduce and Reuse first. Recycling becomes very nearly pointless if we don't do those.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:36 (twenty-one years ago)

No, Pink, just don't recycle something if it's still reusable.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Someone had a 2p back scheme on old drink cans, but were horrified at all the winos that would turn up with sackfuls, ready to fight for the amount they *thought* they'd collected.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

But what if I forget to take a load of carrier bags before I go shopping & there are some left over? I'm never gonna catch up!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Does this mean my big green badge that says I WILL GIVE YOU 1P FOR EVERY BAG YOU REUSE (circa 1991) is a collector's item?

I have a fight with the checkout girl virtually every time I go to the supermarket. She wants to put my mozzarella in a small plastic bag because it might burst. Ditto yoghurts. She wants to double up the carrier bags because the weight of my washing powder might break it. She starts packing before I've been able to fish the cotton carrier bags out of my pocket. The boy scout wants to pack my bags for charity, but starts a new bag after putting 2 items in the first. And yes, I do want to put that cheese in with the new clothes I've just bought from H&M - why would I want a new carrier bag when I've got a perfectly good one here that's not full yet? BIG GRRRRRRRR.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:43 (twenty-one years ago)

USe them for rubbish bags/art projects/storage/sitting on wet ground/carrying books around etc?

xpost

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:44 (twenty-one years ago)

What Madchen says. There is one particular checkout worker at Angel Sainsburys who I specifically avoid because she insists on putting everything in little plastic bags.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:46 (twenty-one years ago)

From the other side of things, when I was a checkout girl, people used to complain if I didn't put their yoghurts in a little bag, so I can understand why it's an automatic reflex (of course, it would be simpler to ASK)

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I try not to use plastic bags in the rubbish because they don't break down as quickly. I do re-use some of the plastic bags for this purpose, but to be honest if I'm going to carry things round I'd rather not be doing it in a carrier bag!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:48 (twenty-one years ago)

but carrier bags squash down to next to nothing so having a spare one in the bottom of your handbag or manbag or whatever, coat pocket even, isn't that big a deal. y'know, just in case...

pet hate is checkout staff who try to pack your bags because a) they do it badly (as itemed above and by the 'heavy things on top of eggs' post somewhere else) and b) they have better things to be doing, like the actual scanning (whereas i'm just stood there waiting for them to finish. it's a process ripe for parallelisation.)

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I always get more than one bags worth to be honest!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

(it's only 5 minutes from work so i tend to go 2 or 3 times a week)

actually for my last birthday someone (hello!) gave me a blue nylon bag the same kind of size and shape as a tesco carrier. was dubious about it at the time but now i use it continually. takes up no space, is stronger than the usual and looks better than those horrible transparent things Morrisons now use (i don't want people to see my shopping!)

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:10 (twenty-one years ago)

haha, I know what you mean! I hate it when ppl stare into your trolley!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Why do people do that? It's so weird.

Does anyone else do this? Put their naughty/cheap/nutrionally deficient foodstuffs to the front of the counter and their gourmet/healthy/expensive produce to the rear so that everyone can ogle and say 'ooh what a healthy/good diet'?

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:17 (twenty-one years ago)

No, I tend to put the healthy stuff at the front and the bad stuff at the back, so when I pack it, the bad stuff is on top for easy access as soon as I get home! Mmmmmm!

― Danger Whore (kate), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't really think that much about it, but J does tell me off for not putting the correct things together.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Packing groceries is an entirely different thing. I have a separate bag for the shit that goes on the passenger seat so it can be raided even BEFORE I get home.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Now you're talking!!! I always each the end of the french bread walking around the supermarket.

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Surely you put all the big heavy stuff at the front and all the lighter stuff at the back for ease of re-packing the trolley to take out to the car? That seems sensible.

(This is my experience of shopping for a family of five talking here)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt DC is wise!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

we have a lot of plastic bags.

I think I am about to decide not to get any more.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:29 (twenty-one years ago)

big things first (small things can be fitted in the gaps). small heavy things next (so they are on the bottom). small light things last.

chocolate doesn't even make it into the bag - goes straight into my jacket pocket for ease of access.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

why don't they just start to use recycled paper bags (like mcdonalds) instead of plastic bags?

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:36 (twenty-one years ago)

they won't hold *everything* but maybe for items like smelly cheese they can have small paper bags rather than plastic ones... and those things for putting fruit and veg in!

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

i have collected about 50 plastic bags in my bottom drawer at work now. i wonder where is the nearest recycling bin

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:38 (twenty-one years ago)

People would bitch about paper bags. I think the Irish bag charge thing is a good model. I bring a nylon carrier or string bag to work when I'm going grocery shopping after. I have been complimented on my bags several times.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Your bottom drawer by the sounds of it.

xpost

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I take my rucksack, easier on the arms and the landfills.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:40 (twenty-one years ago)

why would people bitch about paper bags?

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i save my plastic bags to put recyclables in, but we're not allowed to put the bags in the recycling bin, so i have to throw them out (i could use them again, but by this point they're full of cat food scum and drops of sour milk).

― Cripps Pink (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Would the paper bags be like in america? I mean you can't carry 4 or 5 of those bags surely?

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Paper bags only work in an environment where everyone has cars, so that handleless bags are not a problem. If I had to carry all my groceries in paper bags, I wouldn't get two blocks with them.

― Danger Whore (kate), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:50 (twenty-one years ago)

some paper bags have handles, but they're usually not glued on very well.

― Cripps Pink (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i guess that's true.. still - paper good for those little fruit and veg bags though! tesco used to have them for mushrooms.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:53 (twenty-one years ago)

and it certainly doesn't hurt to have both types of bags available depending on the shop load. i think shoppers will appreciate it that if you only buy like a piece of fruit you'll get a smaller paper bag (with handles) rather that a plastic bag.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

You need an old lady's wicker trolley, Kate. Bagging is greatly reduced. The pointing and laughing drops to an acceptable background level after a few months when the locals realise you're able to take your recyclables up the shortcut through Westow Park with just a little squeaky wheel to attract attention, while they're feeling sheepish about manoeuvring their hatchbacks round the one-way system to drop off their spent bottles like the planet-destroying hypocritical filth they know they are.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I've investigated old lady wicker basket type things, but the handles are never LONG enough (I guess I'm taller than most old ladies) for me to use without getting horrid backaches.

― Danger Whore (kate), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

i always wondered why they use paper bags for mushrooms and nothing else. anyone? i find they dry out quicker in those paper bags.

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I suppose I'm quite lucky because my greengrocer is at the end of my road and I can just stagger the short distance home with multiple small paper bags precariously stuffed in my arms.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

i always wondered too koogs - and have alwyas been tempted to put other things in it to see if they'd just think it's all mushrooms or if they think they'll catch me out.

those bags had nice pictures of mushrooms in it too if i remmebered correctly.. maybe they haven't got round to drawing nice pics of apples and bananas and onions just yet.

― ken c (ken c), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 11:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't mushrooms sweat terribly in plastic bags? We all do.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, that's why they provide (used to?) paper bags!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

This morning I had to prevent a checkout lad from putting my cheese roll (already in a skimpy bakery section placcy bag) in a larger carrier bag. And then he overcharged me for it. FFS.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 31 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.
12 Angry Marks.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm a Lidl man, they do very good trainers

― teh pow! (blueski), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, Tesco can be shit, but at least it's not Asda. Remember people: use your local shops and markets as much as you can.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm a Lidl man, they do very good trainers
*shakes head at stevem*

Our local shop sells out of date milk & doesn't sell free range eggs. Forgive me for not frequenting it on a regular basis!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, Tesco can be shit, but at least it's not Asda. Remember people: use your local shops and markets as much as you can.

the people in my local shop can't pack for shit. and customer service is awful.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:14 (twenty-one years ago)

why should those poor staff be compelled to wear some blue and orange - the WORST blue and orang

i generally would have agreed but Monica at the Sainsbury's downstairs looks really cute in the uniform. Erm maybe this should go to the random person I love you thread.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:15 (twenty-one years ago)

My local's an Asda. It's full of square sausage, beef links and oven chips.

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

awesome.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Accross the road from me is a co-op (or the other one co-op is also called) and it sucks. The staff are, understandably, the most miserable people in the world. Yet down the road at the co-op superstore thingy they are also miserable apart from one incredibly cute girl that works on the 'deli'. Even in the awful uniform they have to wear.

― Craig Gilchrist, Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

it's evident that incredibly cute girls are the saviour of miserable supermarkets with bad uniforms.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah whatever. There are NO cute boys working in supermarkets. All horrid spotty teenagers.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:47 (twenty-one years ago)

you should come to our sainsbury's... there's this cute chinese boy (not as cute as me obv), what's better is that the name on his name badge is "FUN"

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yay monicasainsbury's time in a bit..

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay! But wait, he's named after noodles?

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

tasty by name, tasty by nature.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

The answer has been given - rucksacks. Though when doing rucksack packing, you need to make sure you pack properly, which means you need to have the checkout person scan them in the order of packing, which means you place on the conveyor belt in the order, and then they still refuse to fucking scan the milk carton which must go in first.

OTM, proper conveyor belt ordering is an art.

The awful uniforms are part of the charm.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

there were a couple cute guys that worked with me at the grocery store in ann arbor. and our uniforms weren't that bad, either. we could wear jeans or black trousers, white button down shirt, and a fairly terrible tie with food printed on it.

that was a good job, actually.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 23 September 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Thats wierd, for work I wear a tie with food actually on it.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Thursday, 23 September 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I feel I have to stick up for Sainsburys. The one I frequent in Wandsworth makes me comfortable and happy, though I too get miffed when other people pack my bags for me.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 23 September 2004 10:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Our local Safeway is now heavily Morrisonised and this is OK but for the awful-smelling carrier bags. They seem to impart some chemical odour to all they convey. The hooj Sainsbury SavaCentre down Bell Green/Lower Sydenham way is fine too (great stacks of 80 quid DVD recorders by manufacturers you've never heard of set the tone). Sometimes I think I miss the Brixton Tesco on Acre Lane but then I remember the sheer noise of the place and, er, don't.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 23 September 2004 10:15 (twenty-one years ago)

the TESCO Extra at Kingston in Milton Keynes is still an experience I never forget. (It's just so absolutely HUGE) I wonder if anyone ever bought the actual basketball basket (the whole 10 foot high thing) that was for sale there.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 10:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ha, funny that i was reading this thread just before i went to pick up my lunch at sainsbury's. i put both the bagel and the pain chocolate in the same little bakery bag. obviously, it was the cashier's first day, since she looked like she wanted to cry when she said 'but these are different prices!' and i said 'um, yeah, i know' and she said 'but they aren't in different bags!' and i said 'well, the bags are clear, so you can see what they are, and i didn't want to waste a bag, so it should be ok. you key in the same thing whether it's one bag or two, surely?'

then it took about 10 minutes for her to find 'canadian bagel' and cancel the baguette that she said i had, and it was almost funny how inefficient it was.

i was still nice to her, though. i figured the people scowling at her from behind me in line would make her feel bad enough...

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 23 September 2004 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I had an episode in the enormous Asda in Hollingbury once. I don't think I can go back.

IIRC Chewy, you live a lot nearer the Open Market than I now do. Lucky! (Though we still do trek over the hill of a Saturday for mammoth library and market raids.)

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I piss off people at my local shop by taking stuff out of their plastic bags and putting them in my cloth one. Or just carrying them. It's barely two minutes' walk, why would I need a plastic bag for a carton of eggs? honestly.

― cis (cis), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sad, about safeway, and I don't have a prob, with being asked about nectar/cashback.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:37 (twenty-one years ago)

the safeway, here asks me about, cashbacks, but never nectar.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Side question: if you want cashback and the cashier doesn't seem to be offering, at what point in the transaction is it appropriate to ask? Too late and they may have already swiped your card, too early and they may forget by the time it comes to it.

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Probably before they swipe is acceptable!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

say it just as you give them the card.

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 23 September 2004 11:57 (twenty-one years ago)

It depends on the jadedness of the cashier what you get asked for.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:12 (twenty-one years ago)

IRC Chewy, you live a lot nearer the Open Market than I now do. Lucky! (Though we still do trek over the hill of a Saturday for mammoth library and market raids.)

I do, however I just wish the Open Market would enter the twenty-first century and open after 4. Just one or two stalls opening until 6 o'clock would mean I would be able to avoid visiting Sainbury's so often - and I'm sure would mean a lot of extra custom.

Have you heard that even though the new library isn't opening until July, the temporary one is shutting down in October? I know it will take a while to move things, but NINE MONTHS???

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we should pay, for our rubbish, too.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Archel, do you live in Hove now? There's an excellent fishmonger/butcher in George Street and the grocer on the corner isn't too bad I seem to recall.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

> I think we should pay, for our rubbish, too.

we already do! all that excess packaging doesn't come for free.

since LBHF started doing doorstep recycling deliveries my rubbish has been cut by 60% (ie 60% of what i was previously throwing away was recyclable*). unfortunately the knock-on effect of this is that the stuff i can't recycle makes my kitchen smell long before i have a binbag full.

― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we should pay to throw away all the rubbish that we've bought.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

what's making your bin smell? rotting food?

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

RJG - Council Tax does this

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we should pay, depending on how much we rubbish.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"Kind to trees, sweetie."

(I am glad I have Trader Joe's.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

cool.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I am glad I have you. But not in that way.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt, yes Hove but not that close to George St. We do use the little deli and the greengrocer there sometimes though.

Ha I thought the new library was supposed to open in 'spring'. Since when was July the spring? Grr. V annoying, especially as the staff in Hove library are even more evil and moronic. What would your nearest branch library be? Patcham? (I worked there once, it was nice, but I have more books in my bedroom than they do on their shelves, alas...)

― Archel (Archel), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

It's all there in the current issue of Brighton and Hove Council Spending Your Money To Pat Ourself On The Back Every Month City News.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

> what's making your bin smell? rotting food?

yeah, pretty much. specifically those tatty, inedible outer leaves you always get on lettuces. and no garden = no composting.

― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 23 September 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Put rubbish in smaller e.g. carrier bags and stick it outside each week for non-smelliness. More getting rid of useless plastic. Also most supermarket bags are biodegradable now, so that's good.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 23 September 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

That is a great idea actually! In our flat it takes at least two weks to fill up a bin bag = very evil smells.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i put oniony remains into separate tied bags but never think to do the same for lettuce leaves.

> Also most supermarket bags are biodegradable now, so that's good.

and a lot are type 2 plastic, HDPE, the same stuff as those plastic milk cartons that LBHF will recycle.

middle-class(?) dilemma: do i buy the organic milk in a non-recyclable tetrapak thing or the non-organic milk in a recyclable plastic carton?

― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 23 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

My bad Archel, looked at City News and it says the library will open "early 2005" not "July 2005" as I remembered.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 15:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey Chew: Who needs a penny back while this guy walks the streets of B&H?

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 23 September 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I find it disturbing that we do not have proper supermarket carrier bags in the USA. In fact, if someone wants to post me one of those cloth sack dealies from M&S I'd greatly appreciate it.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Thursday, 23 September 2004 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)


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