For the last few months I have had the unpleasant experience of seeing people walk out of super, mini and minier markets with sometimes as many as three or four plastic bags filled with products they have bought because they did not have an appropriate carrier bag.

They can do this because the shops leave a bundle of plastic bags available near the cash register.

Since the plastic bags do not have a handle – not allowed by law! – you can only fill them up to about half their capacity in order to leave enough material from where to grab the filled bag. And therefore you need two of this type of bag as against a bag with handles.

I am not against these plastic bags in shops selling meat or fish for hygienic reasons. Bread and confectionery items should perhaps be put in paper bags. All other shops should not be allowed to give plastic bags to their customers.

Does it take so much effort to leave one or two cloth bags in your car permanently? After all there were so many shops which gave away cloth or carrier bags free of charge some time ago. This way you do not have to remember to take your bag along with you in case you stop to do some shopping.

Allow me to make a more positive note: These shops have small mountains of empty cartons to dispose of each day. They will normally be more than happy to see you take half a dozen cartons each week to use for your garden rubbish. You will not need a single plastic disposal bag for this type of waste if you make another little effort. Besides you are saving money.