Londoners back action on disposable shopping bags

It said yesterday that more than 90% of Londoners that responded to this autumn's consultation (see letsrecycle.com story) called for action to address the “environmental impact caused by throw away shopping bags”.

And, it said a majority of those sending in their views – 58% – backed London Councils in calling for an outright ban on plastic carrier bags within a Bill being presented in Parliament later this month.

Around 34% of respondents wanted to see a levy introduced on the bags, while 7% opted to change nothing on supermarkets' current practice of giving bags away for free.

The online consultation received 1,752 responses, while a further 100 emails and 270 letters were also received concerning the proposals.

The results of the consultation will be considered by the organisation's Leaders' Committee on Tuesday, where borough chiefs will decide the final list of measures to be included in the Bill, which is to be the tenth London Local Authorities Bill.

Expectations are that the boroughs will opt to put forward measures to restrict the use of free shopping bags in the capital.

Any measures would be unlikely to come into effect before 2009, if they survive the Parliamentary process in the first place.

Commenting on the consultation responses, Cllr Sean Brennan, vice-chairman of London Councils said: “Londoners have clearly signalled that they want action on plastic bags – feeling strongly enough to call for an outright ban. I am sure London's council leaders will listen to their calls before finalising the proposal in the tenth London Local Authorities Bill.”

Local authorities are keen to tackle the issue of plastic bags because of the perception that they add to litter problems. Authorities like Brighton are actively looking to clamp down on their use and individual towns and villages like Modbury in Devon, have already banned them.

However, the plastic carrier bag industry warns that reducing the use of plastic shopping bags could bring more environmental problems than it solves (see letsrecycle.com story).