The much-loved store, famed for its bargains, has explained the charge
Home Bargains has explained the reasoning behind a 20p charge that frustrates many customers. The discount chain, which started life in Liverpool, is among Britain’s fastest-expanding retailers.
On its website, it states: “As a company, we have decided to only sell reusable carrier bags at 20p (40p in Northern Ireland), as we believe that this is the cheapest and most cost-effective reusable carrier bag on the high street.
“This will not only benefit the environment but also our customers. We also encourage customers to bring their own reusable bag with them when they visit.”
10p minimum charge
A separate bag-related charge operating throughout England is the mandatory 10p minimum fee, which covers all single-use plastic carriers, according to the Liverpool Echo. Certain exceptions apply to particular products, including bags containing raw meat or fish.
According to GOV.UK: “Retailers of any size (large, medium, small, micro and airport retailers) must charge a minimum of 10 pence for single-use carrier bags in England. You can be fined if you do not charge.
“Only large retailers are required to record and report the number of single-use carrier bags they sell in England. A large retailer employs 250 or more full-time equivalent employees (in total and not just in retail roles) in a year.”
Some businesses must charge a minimum of 10 pence a bag (including VAT) for single-use carrier bags that are all of the following:
- unused – it’s new and has not already been used for sold goods to be taken away or delivered
- plastic and 70 microns thick or less
- have handles, an opening and are not sealed
With over 22,000 staff members spanning 500 UK outlets, Home Bargains is “the largest employer on Merseyside and is the largest independent grocer in the country”, it says.
Initially called Home and Bargain, Tom Morris established the first shop in 1976, and since then it has fast-become one of the UK’s favourite shops for budget-friendly homeware, groceries, beauty items and toys.
