In October 2015, England became the last country in the UK to introduce a legally binding charge for single-use plastic bags provided by companies of a certain size. The resulting 5p-a-bag charge has seen an 86% reduction in the number of such bags issued since 2015, and over £58m donated to charity and good causes by retailers who donate the money levied from the supply of the bags.
The Single Use Carrier Bag Charges (England) Order SI 2015/776 stated that a "seller" with 250 or more employees must charge a minimum of 5p per single-use plastic bag supplied. The Government is now exploring an idea to raise the minimum price of the bags to 10p per bag, but also to apply the charge to all those who sell goods, regardless of size.
This latest idea is part of the recent revolution against plastic pollution and aims to tackle the issue right at the source by preventing the sale of single-use plastics in the first place. The plan could bring an extra 3 billion bags into scope for the charge. It is estimated that around 13 billion bags have already been taken out of circulation since 2015.
Currently, the charge for a single-use plastic bag is already applicable to small and medium retailers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Theresa May said, "We have taken huge strides to improve the environment, and the charge on plastic bags in supermarkets and big retailers has demonstrated the difference we can achieve by making small changes to our everyday habits. I want to leave a greener, healthier environment for future generations, but with plastic in the sea still set to treble we know we need to do more to better protect our oceans and eliminate this harmful waste."
The British Retail Consortium, which supports the extension of the charge to small and medium sized shops, has called into question the plan to raise the minimum price to 10p. Sian Sutherland said, "This levy increase unfairly targets consumers while major brands continue to force plastic upon them. The government needs to shift its focus on to them if it is to become a world leader in tackling the plastic problem."
