Legislate to rid UK of plastic bags, say Greens
28 February 2008
Green Party Waste and Recycling spokesperson Adrian Ramsay today applauded moves by Marks & Spencer to introduce a 5p levee on its plastic bags, but called for more direct government action necessary to reduce national levels in a 'serious' and 'sustainable' way.
Cllr Ramsay said
"The decision by Marks & Spencer comes as a welcome step towards ridding Britain of the 13 billion plastic bags strewn across our towns and streets, blighting our canals and rivers and discolouring the UK's green fields and spaces every year.
"While the Green Party applauds small voluntary steps like those from M&S in trying to encourage customer behavioral change away from the endless consumption of new plastic bags, we believe that the only way to achieve a serious and sustainable decrease is through Government legislation introducing a mandatory tax on every plastic bag used."
Cllr Ramsay continued, "In 2002, the Irish Government introduced a tax of 15 cents per bag, which resulted in a 90% drop in plastic bag usage. Crucially, it also raised 3.5 million Euros which was then spent on environmental projects throughout the country. The Green Party campaigns for an obligatory 10p 'plastax' per bag, as we believe there is popular support in Britain for a similar scheme here, and we would also encourage the use of re-usable bags and 'bags for life' that many stores are promoting becoming more commonplace.
"Plastic bags are an unnecessary waste in our increasingly environmentally aware society. From the oil-based materials used in their production to the vast numbers lying as waste in open landfill sites, damaging wildlife and disfiguring public spaces, the Green Party will be glad to see them disappear."
