Plastic bag charge for England confirmed in Queen’s Speech
Green policy news – by Thomas McMullan
4th June 2014
Plans to introduce a five pence charge on plastic bags in England were cemented today as part of the Queen’s Speech.
From October 2015, large shops will be made to impose the charge, outlined by the Queen in her speech to Parliament as a measure to “reduce the use of plastic carrier bags to help protect the environment.” Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) will be exempt from the new rule, as will non-plastic bags.
The new charge, following on from similar charges in Wales and Northern Ireland, has been broadly welcomed by green groups, though some say the measures do not do far enough. Meanwhile the retail industry has described the measures as “unhelpful” and has called for a “uniform, UK-wide charge”.
“It will be a popular measure, will reduce littering and sends out the right message that littering is unacceptable,” said a spokesman from Keep Britain Tidy. “But we are hugely disappointed that the Government has chosen to continue with its proposal exemptions – that paperbags, biodegradable plastic bags and smaller retailers will be exempt.”
Incentive for re-use
The new charge, following on from similar charges in Wales and Northern Ireland, has been broadly welcomed by green groups, though some say the measures do not do far enough. Meanwhile the retail industry has described the measures as “unhelpful” and has called for a “uniform, UK-wide charge”.
“It will be a popular measure, will reduce littering and sends out the right message that littering is unacceptable,” said a spokesman from Keep Britain Tidy. “But we are hugely disappointed that the Government has chosen to continue with its proposal exemptions – that paperbags, biodegradable plastic bags and smaller retailers will be exempt.”
Incentive for re-use
Waste prevention organisation, WRAP, positively affirmed the five pence charge could “play a role in changing consumer behaviour by giving them a major incentive to re-use bags.”
“WRAP believes that the key to reducing the overall impact of all carrier bags is to only use them where necessary, re-use them as many times as possible, then recycle them when they are no longer useful,” said a spokeswoman from the organisation.
Wales success
“WRAP believes that the key to reducing the overall impact of all carrier bags is to only use them where necessary, re-use them as many times as possible, then recycle them when they are no longer useful,” said a spokeswoman from the organisation.
Wales success
Wales previously introduced a widely successful five pence charge on plastic bags in 2011, which saw up to 96 per cent reductions in carrier bag usage within the first year. Unlike today’s announcement, Wales’ charge applies to businesses of all sizes.
The introduction of the charge follows on from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s announcement last year of plans to tackle the environmental impact of bags. Speaking at the time, Nick Clegg emphasised the wide-reaching problems with using plastic bags: “They are not just bad for the environment, they are a terrible eyesore on our beautiful countryside. They cause a lot of suffering for animals, particularly marine wildlife.”
There has been disappointment from both retailers and the green sector at the Coalition Government’s choice to exempt non-plastic bags and SMEs from the English version of the rule.
“The exemptions for smaller retailers are not supported by our members and they are likely to confuse shoppers who may have to pay for a bag in one store but not in another,” said Andrew Opie, director of Food and Sustainability for the British Retail Consortium. “A uniform, UK-wide charge would be a much more effective measure in reducing carrier bag waste/consumption.”
Keep Britain Tidy said: “This failure to learn from the experience in Wales and the extensive evidence that a single scheme without exemptions has worked well and is popular with the public and retailers alike is a real missed opportunity.”
But the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the exemption of SMEs from the scheme “as long as the needs of independent shops and small and micro businesses are taken on board.”
“The exemptions for smaller retailers are not supported by our members and they are likely to confuse shoppers who may have to pay for a bag in one store but not in another,” said Andrew Opie, director of Food and Sustainability for the British Retail Consortium. “A uniform, UK-wide charge would be a much more effective measure in reducing carrier bag waste/consumption.”
Keep Britain Tidy said: “This failure to learn from the experience in Wales and the extensive evidence that a single scheme without exemptions has worked well and is popular with the public and retailers alike is a real missed opportunity.”
But the Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the exemption of SMEs from the scheme “as long as the needs of independent shops and small and micro businesses are taken on board.”
“Greenwash”
Others have joined in calling for more to be done to address environmental waste, claiming that the charge on plastic bags amounts to little more than a weak gesture.
Charles Perry, director of sustainability consultancy Anthesis Group and advisor to David Cameron’s Quality of Life Policy Review on Climate Change, said that the charge “risks being seen as nothing more than ‘greenwash’.”
Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, Friends of the Earth’s head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said: “A plastic bag charge is simply a fig leaf to try and hide the Government’s increasingly exposed and withered green credentials.
“Charging for plastic bags is long overdue – but it’s a drop in the ocean when it comes to tackling the UK’s huge waste mountain.”
“Charging for plastic bags is long overdue – but it’s a drop in the ocean when it comes to tackling the UK’s huge waste mountain.”
The introduction of the charge follows on from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s announcement last year of plans to tackle the environmental impact of bags. Speaking at the time, Nick Clegg emphasised the wide-reaching problems with using plastic bags: “They are not just bad for the environment, they are a terrible eyesore on our beautiful countryside. They cause a lot of suffering for animals, particularly marine wildlife.”
England will be the last country in the UK to charge for plastic bags. In addition to Wales, retailers in Northern Ireland already charge 5p per carrier bag and last week Scottish ministers approved a levy to start in October this year.
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