New-style shopping's in the bag

2003-05-12 09:43

Ina Opperman

Johannesburg - It seems as if consumers are accepting the new plastic bags for which they have to pay without a lot of dissent.

Apparently only a few consumers didn't realise they would have to pay for bags from last Friday.

Susan Nxumalo, a packer at Checkers in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, said on Sunday she was packing bags differently.

"Previously, I used to put only a loaf of bread in a bag, but customers are now insisting I fill the bag, because they have to pay for it", she said.

Nxumalo said no one had complained so far that she was not packing enough in a bag.

A few people had been unhappy at the weekend at having to pay for bags, but Nxumalo said that after she had explained to them what had happened, they accepted the situation.

She found a lot of customers had brought their own bags to carry their shopping and quite a few had baskets.

When Beeld visited Checkers on Sunday, many shoppers were leaving with newspapers and snacks because they had forgotten to bring a bag along and didn't want to pay for one.

Thickness regulations implemented later

Kenny Mathivha of the SA Bureau of Standards said on Sunday they had only four inspectors to check on the thickness of the bags.

"Their numbers will increase. They haven't started with the inspections because the new regulations about the thickness of the bags willl be implemented only on June 19.

"These inspectors are not going to check on every small retailer to see if he's selling the correct bags, but will check on the thickness of bags during the manufacturing process," he said.

The SABS drew up the regulations in co-operation with the retail industry and they have been approved by the department of environmental affairs.

- Beeld