Responding to a parliamentary question last week, the minister for local environment said that the impact assessment recently carried out by the Scottish Executive did not suggest that a plastic bag tax would be beneficial.
” The number of single-use plastic bags in circulation could be significantly reduced through reuse and recycling “
– Ben Bradshaw
He explained: The extended impact assessment carried out by the Scottish Executive on a proposal to introduce a levy on plastic bags in Scotland concluded that there would be a broad environmental disbenefit if a levy was introduced on the lines proposed.”
Mr Bradshaw added that the developments in Scotland and Ireland are being kept under review.
Feasability
And he added: “The number of single-use plastic bags in circulation could be significantly reduced through reuse and recycling, so we have asked the Waste and Resources Action Programme to investigate the feasibility of a national bag for life scheme.
“This would encourage consumers to use strong, re-usable plastic bags in place of single-use bags. Life cycle analysis surveys suggest that re-using such bags between for and seven times would have significant environmental benefits when compared to alternatives such as plastic carrier bags, paper bags and biodegradable bags,” he said.
WRAP are currently trialling a national bag for life scheme in Bristol and Edinburgh, in association with supermarket retailers, the Scottish Executive, the British Retail Consortium and Scottish Waste Awareness. Approximately 35 to 40 supermarket outlets in each town will take part in these trials.
Register for free to comment