Assembly Members Would Force Retailers to Introduce a Levy on All Single-Use Plastic Bags

It claims that supermarkets have failed to cut the number of plastic bags they give out to shoppers. The motion, agreed unanimously by Assembly Members, urges the Secretary of State for the Environment to enact reserve legislation, part of the Climate Change Act 2008, that would force retailers to introduce a levy on all single-use plastic bags. According to figures from Wrap, supermarket customers used almost eight billion carrier bags in 2011, a 5.4% rise on the 7.6 billion in 2010, with each person using an average of almost 11 a month. Jenny Jones AM, who proposed the motion, said: “Free supermarket plastic bags are a myth; they cost us a lot money to deal with as damaging rubbish. Almost 1.5bn are given out in London every year, most destined to be used for no more than 20 minutes before being thrown away. “The shame is that discarded bags are one of the easiest environmental problems to solve – a simple levy introduced in Ireland cut their number by 90 per cent – yet in England, the number being given out by the big supermarkets is actually rising. “Supermarkets have failed cut plastic bag use voluntarily. We now need decisive action.” Murad Qureshi AM, who seconded the motion, added: “You just have to go down the foreshore of the Thames to see the damage discarded plastic bags can do to our environment. Single-use plastic bags take decades to break down and are a hazard to plants and animals as well as being an eye sore for visitors and residents alike.” Bag bashing However, the plastics industry would argue that the Government should concentrate on more “significant” environmental issues. Pafa chief executive Barry Turner told PN: “When will politicians of all parties stop going on about carrier bags and focus on issues of more significance? “Quite contrary to those proposing action in the London Assembly carrier bags are not discarded 20 minutes after use - almost 80 % are reused at least once and that’s according to official figures. If action on carrier bags is required, it should be to educate, encourage and engage consumers to reuse, recycle and to continue to support the recycling collection and sorting infrastructure to achieve this.” Source: packagingnews