I know last time I mentioned plastic bags here on GGG I promised that I would shut up about them for a while except something happened yesterday and I have to tell you about it.

Yesterday I went into a charity shop (whose name I won’t mention) and bought something. At the till the cashier started putting the item into a plastic bag, I told her I didn’t need the bag because I had my own but she insisted I take it anyway. I had to say again that I didn’t want the bag and her colleague said to me “its for the environment isn’t it?“, I said “yes”. The cashier then explained that she had been told by the charity to make sure she gives customers plastic bags so that they can advertise the charity after the customer has left the shop. I promised the cashier that instead of taking the bag I’d tell my friends to go and shop there as an alternative way of advertising.

In my opinion, this particular charity produces a lot of waste anyway (and wastes a lot of money), sending pens and other novelty items through the post when you haven’t asked for them but this plastic bag policy is even more ridiculous!

Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone think that this makes no sense at all?

I would never discourage anyone from buying from a charity shop, you can find some real vintage gems, you know where your money is going and you’re recycling all at the same time. So visit the Association of Charity Shops website www.charityshops.org.uk to find out which charity shops are near you and go and check them out. If you’ve never been charity shopping before you’ll be pleasantly surprised.