A levy on plastic carrier bags in Wales has resulted in a steep fall in their use by consumers, but is it the right way to help the environment?
Why are we talking about it now?
Since Wales implemented a compulsory charge for plastic bags last year, supermarkets have reported a fall in their use. Sainsbury’s recorded a 90% reduction in use following the implementation of the 5p charge while Co-op has experienced an 86% fall. Morrisons’ usage is also down 60% across Wales.
However, sales of bags for life have increased slightly as people use them in place of ‘single use’ plastic bags.
How does the plastic bag levy work?
In Wales, the levy charges shoppers 5p for every plastic bag they use in an effort to cut down usage, preventing the bags going to landfill and polluting the environment. Plastic bags are difficult to recycle and do not biodegrade unless they are specially designed to do so.
Where the money raised then goes to depends on the country. In Wales the scheme is voluntary, so many of the retailers donate the revenue from the charge to good causes.
But when Northern Ireland introduces a 5p levy on plastic bags in 2013, the revenue will go to the Government.
What do retailers think of the levy?
“Putting a charge on bags is not the way retailers wanted the Welsh government to reduce the usage of carrier bags,” says British Retail Consortium head of environment Bob Gordon.
“Reducing carrier bags has a small environmental impact and so the move seems to be heavy handed.
“It also doesn’t fit with retailers’ customer service proposition because sometimes when you go shopping, you might buy an item and you need a bag,” he says.
Gordon argues retailers are supportive of the Government’s ambitions to recycle more waste, as many supermarkets now offer used-carrier bag collections in-store.
Is the rest of the UK following suit with the levy?
Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce a bag tax. In February, Northern Ireland revealed it was introducing a 5p levy on carrier bags next year, and Scotland is consulting on whether to introduce charges.
So far England is the only country in the UK not to have a proposed levy or a consultation on it, despite the Government threatening a levy in England after plastic carrier bag use increased 5% in 2010. England may have to change its stance if the European Commission continues discussions regarding a Europe-wide strategy on plastic bags which could include a ban.
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