It's in the bag

I see the National Trust has now jumped on the 'let's make an eco-killing band waggon' and started charging for its carrier bags.

Apparently this is to reduce the amount of plastic and is in response to customer feedback - amazing how often customer response/feedback/requests and so on come into play whenever an organisation changes something, particularly if it is going to cost more. Strangely, as a member, I am no stranger to NT properties and have never been asked my opinion about carrier bags nor do I know anyone who has been asked.

I just wonder by what authority the NT and other shops charging 5p a back feel they have the right to effectively impose an environment tax, which is what it is. I don't mind if they say we can't afford free bags any more so we are charging for them, or even announce they have decided to charge to make more profit, I can take honesty, but to claim it is for the environment and they are really doing it for us is cynical in the extreme. The Trust's 5p is straight in their coffers, a little eco-windfall, while even the shop chains offering to give the money to charity will no doubt take out the cost of bags and manage to make a few grand interest before their donations make it to the inevitable cheque presentations.

No chain has yet come up with anything to really help that involves them actually doing anything, such as announcing it will only use biodegradable carrier bags in future or, even better, will in future only use paper sacks and paper bags which can all be recycled.