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To the small downtown grocery store that makes you pay for plastic bags because “they care about the environment” – why is it that all of your “organic salad” containers and your free little fruit and vegetable bags are not recyclable in this province? What’s up with that?—’greenwashed’
This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2010.
13 Comments
just a fucking cash grab,o.p., just a cash grab.
yea those bags cost like 2 cents and they charge 5 chaching
It’s not a cash grab, idiots. Why is it whenever a company charges you for something a “cash grab”? It’s 5 fucking cents. Bring a re-usable bag, don’t get charged. Pretty simple. Superstore now provides them for free now too, but still not at Quinpool! Let’s say you get a load of groceries (about $200). Between large items and stuff that actually goes into a bag, you might get 10 to 15 bags (given Pete’s prices, I’m being generous). That’s 50 to 75 cents. Tell you what, if it bothers you that much, send me your grocery bill and I’ll reimburse you from my pocket change.
OP, what’s not recyclable about the bags that they’re in? I’m missing something there, is it that they’re made of some other non-polyethylene substance? Some of them are made of the bio-degradable starch plastics, in which case, just toss them out in the trash. They’ll break down… Eventually.
Fever: I think the OP’s point isn’t about the money, but about the hypocricy of claiming to care about the environment, but then selling store-brand products packaged in non-recyclable containers.
Fever: Most of the plastic containers that the store uses are a plastic that is not recyclable in NS. Only plastics numbered 1 and 2 are able to be recycled here, while said store’s containers are usually number 5. Just look at the underside of the container next time you’re there.
No I know, that was directed at the other commenters, and only slightly the OP who clearly has an issue with being charged for plastic bags, otherwise they wouldn’t mention it.
I don’t think there’s any hypocrisy here. They’re trying to be environmental, it just that a package that is used (which is a bag, oddly enough, and the last time I checked, 95% of the plastic bags on the market are made of just basic polyethylene, making them recyclable) for a product they probably have nothing to do with is not. There’s two things wrong here. If this type of plastic is not supported for recycling in the waste stream, then it should be, but that’s HRM’s issue, not Pete’s. Also, as just a middle man, I’m sure there are other products on those shelves that are banded as “Pete’s” that are not recyclable. Again, that’s a production problem and there’s another issue about HRM not supporting a proper recycling program.
Actually the stuff marked “Pete’s” from his gardens in the valley are MOST often marked 5 or 6. I’ve had a moral dilemma standing there with raspberries in my hands: same amount, same price…one’s his and only came from the Valley but isn’t in recycleable plastic…the other came from further away (Ontario) but was recycleable.
not to totally disagree with you Fever, but if they were truly trying to be environmental, eliminate the plastic grocery bag all together. go paper. and yes its only 5 cents per bag so you say its not a cash grab. simply a disincentive for people to use them. however, think of that 5 cents played out millions of times across the country. it does add up to a significant little bonus for a cost they have already added into the cost of our groceries.
its much akin to the government continually selling cigarettes. if they really wanted people to stop smoking, theyd stop providing them.
I say take it further, john, and eliminate the choice. No paper or plastic. But business dictates otherwise, so here we are. Talking about Superstore, they’re giving you the bags for free now, and now giving you a nominal discount for using reusable bags. Pete’s on the other hand, I’d hazard a guess that their actual cost per bag is in the 5 cent range (much smaller company, less purchasing power), coupled with the much smaller business that the company does, your argument is a bit moot.
You are right about the government and the smokers though.
fuck the environmental groups.they will not be happy till we give up our way of life and started living in grass huts,digging for roots for food and what they call medicine.the kind that doesn’t work or makes you worse.
what about a certain grocery store who charged a nickel
but has changed their policy to take a penny off my bill if i don’t use a bag. thats about right i pay 5x more for it than they do
I know Pete’s are always trying to do the right thing for the enviroment and unfortuantly not all of the products that “customers demand” are produced in “green” packaging. I also know “Pete’s” do not want to charge for plastic, they want you to bring your own bag…..don’t be lazy and remember to bring your bag!
I just noticed that the Stuporstore charged me a deposit for a carton of chocolate milk, but not milk. now THAT is hypocrisy. same effin’ carton…