PLASTIC BAG FEE ‘SET TO DOUBLE’
T HE price of a plastic bag will double to 10p in England under new proposals – as the Welsh Government says it’s also considering plans to further cut their usage here in Wales.
The proposals will be included in a Westminster government paper which will go out for consultation at the end of the year, according to natiomal newspaper reports yesterday.
The plans are said to have already been approved by Environment Minister Michael Gove and the Prime Minister.
Disposable carrier bags issued by the seven biggest supermarket chains have declined by 86% in England since the charge was introduced in 2015, official figures show.
When asked for a statement in response to the news, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “Wales was the first in the UK to introduce a single use carrier bag charge and has recorded substantial reductions in carrier bag usage.
“We are currently considering ways in which we can further reduce the number of new carrier bags being bought by consumers.”
Single-use plastics are one of the biggest threats facing our planet and countries worldwide are taking steps to tackle the issue.
Back in 2011, Wales led the way by becoming the first country in the UK to introduce a 5p charge for plastic bags.
Since then a lot has changed, including a new law introduced last week banning shops in Wales from selling bathroom products containing plastic microbeads.
The tiny plastic particles found in shower gels and toothpaste are not biodegradable and are impossible to remove once they contaminate the water.
The ban has already been introduced in England and Scotland amid hopes to reduce the 680 tonnes of the particles used in the UK every year.
The Welsh Government is currently working with other UK nations on a UK-wide deposit-return scheme for drinks containers.