I am all for the environment, and I wish science has an answer (e.g. degradable plastic bags). Personally I use ALL my plastic bags from Coles and Woolies as garbage bags at home, and I assume a lot of people do this. Now they are phasing it out, I may have to BUY the bags, so my overall "plastic footprint" is probably unchanged.
So, is this simply a cost cutting stunt? Or a feel good exercise? Can we change the environment? Or, can we start putting rubbish in the bin without a bag? Would city councils accept that? What about apartments?
EDIT: I stuffed up the poll, should be:
I've always used colesworth bags as garbage bags and will start buying commercial garbage bags
I've always used colesworth bags as garbage bags but will NOT buy commercial garbage bags
I don't use colesworth bags as garbage bags and always buy commercial garbage bags anyway
I never use garbage bags
I am garbage
There is a lot of comments on this subject, the majority of which I have not waded through, so if my comments below have already been made please accept my apology.
By law, in the UK the majority of plastic bags are chargeable, 5p (less than 10c) per bag with the proceeds going to charity. There are exceptions but generally speaking this is the norm.
It is reckoned that the issue of new plastic bags has fallen by around 80%