Are shoppers really taking trolleys to avoid 5p bag charge?
Shoppers adamant they will find a way to beat the 5p plastic carrier bag charge are taking their shopping home in the trolleys and baskets used in store.
Why pay 5p for a bag when you can get a whole trolley for £1? pic.twitter.com/T0vCGmysql
— The Fastest SpermⓂ️ (@J0RDLEE) October 10, 2015
The charge was introduced on October 5 and brings England in line with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It's hoped the 5p levy will reduce litter and protect wildlife as shoppers re-use old bags and make use of stronger bags for life.
5p for plastic bag? Lol u must be bloffin, trolley is 0p #RobThisEnglandpic.twitter.com/HDxJWWDGlx
— Amenyah (@Danotelli_) October 6, 2015
But some people are wheeling supermarket trolleys all the way to their home and even into their kitchens. As countless people pointed out on Twitter, although a bag costs 5p, you can take a "trolley for a £1″.
5p for a bag quid for a trolley #NoBrainer#Needed6Bags@JohnMurray84@CiaranGriff83pic.twitter.com/Tm93ftFUG2
— paul griffiths (@paulgrippa) October 10, 2015
People are also using the in-store basket to cart their stuff from store to home.
Local OneStop doing the 5p bags thing, so I asked how much for a basket. No price, apparently. Very reasonable. pic.twitter.com/u79bwMyKUO
— MisterGLS ✘ (@MisterGLS) October 11, 2015
can't believe my dad has just stole a shopping basket because he doesn't wanna pay 5p a bag the scruff
— ebs (@ebonyrose__) October 11, 2015
Someone took this 5p a bag way too seriously, I've got a basket missing from my shop 😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒😒
— Mr Hussain (@subyhussain) October 7, 2015
While other people are being more resourceful.
The lengths people are going to not pay 5p for a bag 😂 a woman carrying her shopping in a cat basket 😂 only in Loughborough
— clare (@clareboycs_) October 9, 2015
And the whole thing is having knock-on effects.
This 5p a plastic bag saga is going too far. Im seeing people going to work with their lunch in a Tesco basket 🙈
— Adam —– (@AdamLukeSmith) October 12, 2015
Retailers with 250 or more full-time equivalent employees have to charge a minimum of 5p for the bags they provide for shopping in stores and for deliveries, but smaller shops and paper bags are not included.
In 2014, the number of single-use bags given out by major supermarkets reached more than 7.6 billion – the equivalent of 140 per person and 61,000 tonnes in total.
More on AOL Money:
England reacts to 5p carrier bag charge
New 5p charge for carrier bags introduced
Are Tesco really security tagging their plastic bags?
