Inquiry into plastic bag levy launched

MPs are to scrutinise the governments plan to introduce a charge for the use of plastic carrier bags from 2015, as well as the proposals to exempt biodegradable bags from the charge.

The Environmental Audit Committee, which is made up of MPs from each of the main political parties, announced on Friday (November 22) the launch of an inquiry into the sustainability of the governments measures to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.

Plans to introduce a 5p levy on single-use plastic bags were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in September (see letsrecycle.com story), with the government also suggesting that it will incentivise the use of biodegradable plastic bags by exempting them from the charge.

Opponents of the exemption for biodegradable bags say that it is not possible to recycle degradable bags alongside standard plastic carriers due to the difference in the structure of the material and promoting their use could undermine the recycling of plastic films.

In a statement published last week, the British Plastic Federations Recycling Group warned that the measure would have catastrophic consequences for the recycling industry adding that an increase in the amount of biodegradable plastic in the waste stream would reduce demand for recycled film products, due to concerns over the robustness of the material.

Biodegradable

Elsewhere, a report commissioned by the continental plastics reprocessing body European Plastics Converters (EuPC) published this month claimed that as little as 2% of degradable plastic film mixed in with plastic recyclates can cause significant detrimental impacts to the quality of plastic recyclates.

Duncan Grierson, chief executive of PlasRecycle, which has built a 10 million polythene bag recycling facility in Thamesmead, South London (see letsrecycle.com story) said that the proposed exemption would be disastrous for recyclers.

Speaking to letsrecycle.com, he said: We really hope that the government does not take the backward step of giving an exemption for biodegradable bags. This would be a huge mistake and a disaster for the plastics recycling sector. It is not possible to efficiently remove degradable bags from the plastics waste stream and this contamination will render the recycled plastic pellets worthless.

The recent report from respected trade body European Plastics Converters (EuPC) confirms that small quantities of degradable plastic films, as low as 2%, can cause significant, detrimental impacts to the quality of plastics recyclates.

The government has yet to identify how the exemption for biodegradable bags could work in practice and this month launched a tender to seek innovative approaches from businesses to make the use of biodegradable bags more viable (see letsrecycle.com story).

Evidence

As part of its inquiry into the measures, the Environmental Audit Committee is seeking written submissions of evidence on the likely environmental impact of the 5p charge for bags, and the impact on the use of biodegradable bags on plastics recycling.

They will also seek submissions on the rationale for excluding some retailers from the levy, and the social or economic impacts of the proposals. Stakeholders have been given until December 9 to provide evidence, with the Committee to take oral evidence at a session on December 18.

The Committee, chaired by Joan Walley MP, includes former environment minister Richard Benyon; Green Party MP Caroline Lucas; Labour MP for Southampton Dr Alan Whitehead; and Conservative MP for Richmond Park Zac Goldsmith.

Following the conclusion of the inquiry, the Committee will publish its findings over the impact of the proposals, which will be forwarded to government.Charging schemes have already been implemented in Wales and Northern Ireland, with a similar scheme also scheduled to come into effect in Scotland.

Consultation

Defra has also launched its own call for evidence today (November 25) into the proposed carrier bag charge.

The consultation has been welcomed by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), whose chief executive Steve Lee, said: While we believe that a charge is necessary and that England was at risk of being left behind by not introducing a legislative requirement, this is not a simple issue.

The parameters of the legislation must be carefully thought through to ensure that the measure delivers genuine environmental gains and the question of biodegradable bags is a particularly challenging issue. CIWM welcomes the research that Defra is proposing to fund and we would like to see rigorous material standards and effective sorting solutions to allow this important technology to play its part in reducing the impact of carrier bag litter on the land and marine environments.