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Marks & Spencers' 5p charge on carrier bags has seen an 80% reduction in their use in the first yearJim Royle of BBC's The Royle Family was scandalised at the thought of paying 5p for a carrier bag, but the introduction of charges for single-use bags has been a huge success, according to figures from high street retailers.They reveal that high profile campaigns and fashion-statement alternatives to plastic, combined with charges and incentives such as Green loyalty points have helped some retailers cut bag use by as much as 85%.Since launching a 5p charge for food bags last May as part of its Plan A scheme to reduce waste, Marks & Spencers says the number of bags taken to cart posh ready meals home has fallen by 80%, from 460m bags a year to 80m. The National Trust, which introduced a charge on 1 May last year in its shops and garden centres, has managed to slash plastic bag usage by 85%, or 1m bags a year. It said just 5% of its customers were now taking the disposable option.'We are

Marks & Spencers' 5p charge on carrier bags has seen an 80% reduction in their use in the first yearJim Royle of BBC's The Royle Family was scandalised at the thought of paying 5p for a carrier bag, but the introduction of charges for single-use bags has been a huge success, according to figures from high street retailers.They reveal that high profile campaigns and fashion-statement alternatives to plastic, combined with charges and incentives such as Green loyalty points have helped some retailers cut bag use by as much as 85%.Since launching a 5p charge for food bags last May as part of its Plan A scheme to reduce waste, Marks & Spencers says the number of bags taken to cart posh ready meals home has fallen by 80%, from 460m bags a year to 80m. The National Trust, which introduced a charge on 1 May last year in its shops and garden centres, has managed to slash plastic bag usage by 85%, or 1m bags a year. It said just 5% of its customers were now taking the disposable option.'We are

MORINVILLE — A 26-year-old woman killed in a Morinville house was a waitress who was devoted to her three children, family and friends said Thursday.The woman, identified by family and friends as Je...

Parents of bedwetting children have many tricks and tools to try in the quest for dry nights. Here's one family's experience with the Malem Ultimate 1 bedwetting alarm.

At first, it's fun to pull out the rain boots and umbrellas. For toddlers, the change in weather can be very exciting. By day two, the novelty wears a bit thin and the inside of the house seems to be... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

Moms of infants are generally hyperaware of germs and keeping their baby healthy anyway, but when something like the swine flu becomes headline news, it's hard not to panic just a little bit.... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

When some people hear a woman is using 'fertility drugs,' the first thing that comes to mind is multiple pregnancies like the McCaugheys of Iowa or the Chukwus of Texas. If managed carefully, the... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

'My 3-year-old says all the time that he does not like his baby brother, who is 4 months old. This crushes me, though I know he doesn't mean it. What should I do?' 'You are right. It isn't... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

Aggression in our children may not seem like a serious problem, at first, depending on how aggressive a child is. Some parents feel that squabbling and push/shove matches are normal as children try... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

'My 3-year-old says all the time that he does not like his baby brother, who is 4 months old. This crushes me, though I know he doesn't mean it. What should I do?' 'You are right. It isn't... iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com