From Monday 5 October 2015, large shops in England will have to charge five pence for all single use carrier bags they provide.
In 2013, the major supermarkets in England gave out over 7.4 billion plastic bags – that’s 133 bags for every person. Small retailers don’t have to charge but can do so on a voluntary basis (1).
Jenny Jones AM has repeatedly argued that in line with all other UK regions, a cross-party unanimous view of the London Assembly (2), trade bodies for small retailers (3), the charge should apply to all retailers, irrespective of their size.
Jenny Jones AM said:
“Seven years after England had the power to charge for single use carrier bags and tens of billions of plastic bags later, it is with relief that the Government has finally brought in this desperately needed and overdue charge that all the evidence shows will drastically reduce their use and the environmental mayhem they cause.
“However, the Government’s exemption for smaller retailers with a voluntary code is exactly the opposite of the universal plastic bag charge they wanted. This 'dogs dinner' policy will mean more headaches and administrative confusion for small businesses”.
ENDS
Notes:
(1) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/carrier-bags
(3) The Single use carrier bag motion proposed by Jenny Jones AM was unanimously approved by the London Assembly on 13th September 2012.
"This Assembly notes the failure of supermarkets to prevent an increase in the number of single use plastic bags issued by them, through voluntary measures, over the past two years. It also notes the London Assembly's 2007 report, 'Bag to Basics', which supported the introduction of a national levy on single use carrier bags.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor to request that the Secretary of State for the Environment enacts the reserve legislation in place under the Climate Change Act 2008, and introduces a mandatory charge on all single use carrier bags, ensuring that small businesses are protected from any additional administrative burden."