PLASTIC BAGS.

“UK plastic bag use up for fifth year

Average household has 40 plastic bags at home, but number of single use bags taken at supermarkets keeps rising ahead of 5p bag charge in England.  The number of single-use plastic bags handed out by UK supermarkets has increased for the fifth year running.”
It is not that plastic bags are worse than other plastic waste, rather that reducing them is easier to achieve (because there are alternatives and eliminating the plastic requires only changes in behaviour, not changes along a supply chain). We should certainly work towards reducing other plastic waste, though. It will be very interesting to see shops offering a greater range of unpackaged goods.
Both shops and customers need to take greater responsibility over plastic bag waste. Shops give out bags far too readily; afraid that customers will be offended if they do not. It's good that the forthcoming bag charge in England will at least give shops a standard framework for changing their policies.