THE question of whether we should use fewer plastic bags should require no further debate. However the next question is how, and how much we want to do it. I would like some interested parties to throw some light on some other related questions.
For the last eight years I have been doing my weekly shopping at the Park'n Shop at Clear Water Bay. I used to be able to pick up an empty cardboard box to hold my purchases rather than plastic bags. Those 'environmentally friendly' shopping bags are not big enough for one week's supply for my family of five.
However, over the last few months, it has been difficult to find a usable box. Instead, staff automatically start to put my purchases into plastic bags, without asking whether I need them. I really feel guilty that I have to take all those bags but the staff just don't seem to care.
I've tried to ask for boxes instead of bags, often without success. However, on the way out I always see piles of flattened boxes being collected or carted away. Since the boxes are already flattened they are unusable. If the supermarket can afford to scrap boxes, why can't it leave some behind for customers? Most shoppers at that particular shop go there in their cars which can always hold a box in the boot.
Boxes used for holding purchases are always reused many times in my home before being sent on their final journey - probably holding other rubbish as well.
I have no problem getting boxes from the Wellcome supermarket at Pik Uk, whose management actually welcomes our taking care of the discarded boxes for them (though this is not true of every Wellcome outlet).
