THE WAR ON PLASTIC

Regarding Marie Dixon’s letter about paper bags (YOU Say, 15 March), as long as supermarkets and the government make profits from plastic bags they’ll never stop. They feel zilch for the environment.

I now take a cardboard box to the supermarket and a handful of linen bags. The funny looks I get and the horror of the checkout staff are priceless. The packers have no idea what to do with the box. I have to teach them how to pack it.

Paper bags would be great but you’d still pay for them dearly, thereby enriching the government and shops. BRYAN JARMAN, AMANZIMTOTI S Well done Loretta, for your plastic challenge (YOU Say, 22 March). I hope readers who live near beaches will follow your example and start cleaning up.

I’ve just returned from New Zealand where plastic bags will no longer be available in supermarkets from 2019. Why can’t South Africa do the same?

Once the bags are no longer available, people will have to find an alternative, and slowly but surely the problem will disappear. DOROTHY ADE, PIETERMARITZBURG Regarding the listeriosis crisis, it’s scary how our local well-known food store has products on its shelves that are past their sell-by dates. It even tries to sell them at reduced prices. Surely this is a health risk? Health authorities should also look at this and not just the manufacturing companies. WORRIED, SMS