Reclaimed materials sub standard?

[Crocus]

For a while now I've noticed that some packaging is not as "tough" as it was
before. The recycle bags we receive every Thursday got a lot thinner which causes it to tear more easily; I bought two packets of biscuits last week for a tart I wanted to make, and the packet has actually torn the moment I took it from the shelf; also the cereal boxes tear very easily, one has to handle it with great care etc. etc.

Do you also find this or is just us here experiencing sub standard quality in packaging?

[Gentian]

I haven't noticed this and when I was struggling into a box the other day I thought we could save a few trees if we made them thinner. There have been suggestions that our waste will be weighed and we will be charged accordingly - what a thought, folk have said they will take the packaging back to the supermarket

[Gentian]

I always smile when I read the label - recycled toilet paper!!!!!!!!!!!

[souter girl]

Yes, you wonder how they can join up all the perforations between the leaves doesn't it?! It also makes me laugh when I am asked at the check-out if I have brought my own plastic bags - use them a second time? I'm lucky if I can get them out of the trolley and into the car without splitting

[jazzactivist]

I had a laugh thinking of you struggling to get into a box, dragonfly. Were you planning to return yourself to the shop? He he!

I have noticed that bags and packaging are getting thinner, but surely that's a good thing for the environment? As we shop in small, specialist shops and farmers markets we don't buy many things with packaging on, and always choose paper bags and take our own reusable bags to carry our shopping. Then we store our perishables in tupperware boxes. As a result our bin is only about a quarter full when we put it out every fortnight. I wouldn't mind paying for rubbish by weight, and I think that our mums and grandmas can teach us a thing or two about food storage. Remember when a row of different coloured tupperware was all the rage?

[souter girl]

Isn't it still?? I like my (matching) storage containers shame they don't match the new kitchen. Does anybody know of a good replacement for Tupperware? I have used ice-cream boxes (lids usually stop fitting) soup cartons (same problem) and the things on offer in supermarkets are just plain dull!

[Gentian]

Years ago I bought Nescafe in storage jars and they are still going strong. I make labels on the computer using a nice font and keep them level and they look good

[jazzactivist]

I picked up most of my Tupperware in charity shops, souter girl. I have a row of 5, pastel coloured, upright containers that I use for dry goods. I agree with you that current offerings are nowhere near as interesting, but maybe somewhere like Cath Kidston or The Storage Company has some better colours. I never expected that my kitchen cupboards would look the same as my mum's did all these years later, but they do, especially as the kitchen that we now live with is 1970s blue melamine!

[Crocus]

Recycled toilet paper - not totally sure about that! ..... Anyway, I also use Tupperware containers for cereals, rice, etc. (dry foods). The plastic bags (transparent) at the veggie shop tears almost at first touch, it's so thin. We put all bottles, plastic bags, paper, anything and everything which is not food, in recycle bags supplied by the Council which are collected on Thursdays. These bags also gets thinner and thinner and tears very easily. I bought some of those orange bags at Sainsbury's with our last visit, but I notice it's also starting to tear now. Had good service from it though. My M&S bag is still going strong! Time for me to get into a Sainsbury's to stock up again! xxx

[Gentian]

Don't forget to put your recycling bin out Crocus - tomorrow is Thursday!!!

[Crocus]

Hi Gentian, no I won't! There's two bags to go today as I did some clearing out of my kitchen cupboards - lots of stuff for them to recycle and make into something new! xx

[Gentian]

I bought 4 of everything in the way of cups and saucers etc and got rid of the old which was 6 of each to the charity shop, now I have some room. I have also made new place mats and serviettes to match and chucked the old ones. Got to keep the standards up !!!

[Crocus]

I put it out every Thursday morning Gen! But this week I've again realised that the recycled stuff arn't as strong as it perhaps should be. The recycle bags itself are much thinner than it was in the beginning, the black bags are much thinner, and even so-called "heavy duty tin foil" are very far from being heavy duty. It tears very easily, and I wonder if this also are produced from recycled materials? I again had to buy the biscuits I mentioned in my first posting, and again the packet just collapses, tears almost to the touch. It's a bit frustrating really.

[Crocus]

I bought a roll of paper towels today - actually two in a pack) and most definitely it's much much thinner than the previous pack. I also noticed it with toiletpaper - the same problem - much thinner.

[Crocus]

It happened again. I bought sugar the other day, and I'm sure it's recycled paper because upon opening it yesterday, the wrapping just started to tear at the bottom of the pack, .........and everyone knows the consequences ........ yes, sugar all over. xx