The London Local Authorities (Shopping Bags) Bill, put forward by the London boroughs' organisation London Councils, is receiving its second reading in the House of Commons today (January 29).
Local councils should be supporting retailers' work, for example on increasing recycling, not damaging customers' ability to shop.
Jane Milne, BRC
The second reading is not expected to include a debate, with Parliament expected to examine the proposed measures in detail next month.
Those opposing the Bill have until 5pm tomorrow (January 30) to submit their petitions against the measures that would prohibit London retailers providing customers with shopping bags it proposes, and give powers to local authorities to enforce the ban.
The British Retail Consortium has teamed up with the Association of Convenience Stores to denounce the Bill.
They fear the Bill would create an “army” of council bag-ban enforcers, who would wield Revenue and Customs-style powers to burst into premises, demand evidence and issue fines, is being condemned by retailers of all sizes.
“Excessive”
The retailers also described the Bill as “excessive”, since some large retailers are already attempting to cut down on the use of single-use shopping bags under a voluntary agreement with the government, called the Courtauld Commitment (see letsrecycle.com story).
Jane Milne, the BRC's director of business environment, said: “This is a gesture to grab a headline. It will do almost nothing for the environment.
“Carrier bags are not the great environmental evil. They represent a fraction of 1% of waste going to landfill. Even so, retailers of all types are already well on the way to meeting a voluntary pledge to achieve a 25% reduction.
Ms Milne went on: “Do councillors really believe Londoners want their money spent on a new army of bag-ban enforcers bursting into shops, demanding documents and searching for secret supplies of bags shopkeepers held for provision to customers? Local councils should be supporting retailers' work, for example on increasing recycling, not damaging customers' ability to shop and retailers' ability to trade.”
I'm conscious that it isn't a perfect Bill. What we are trying to do is move the world on, get a debate going.
Stephen Benton, London Councils
The ACS added its fears that the proposed ban would hit small retailers the hardest. James Lowman, the Association's chief executive, said: “The proposal would ban not only giving bags away free but also making bags available for sale. This is excessive and economically very dangerous. As it stands they have done no analysis of the likely impact of this measure on the retail economy in London.”
However, speaking at a waste industry meeting on Friday, ahead of today's Bill second reading, the London Councils head of sustainability policy, Stephen Benton, said the intention was not for the Bill to ultimately become law.
He said it was an attempt to stir up debate and press the government to take more action on disposable bags.
Previous Bills put forward by London Councils – previously known as the Association of London Government – have ended up influencing government policy, Mr Benton said, including a Bill suggesting a smoking ban.
“Catalyst for change”
“We know that this is not the final word,” he told the meeting of the CIWM London and Southern Counties group in Islington. “We always knew this was about changing things, I'm conscious that it isn't a perfect Bill. What we are trying to do is move the world on, get a debate going. It's not about getting this Bill through Parliament – we think it isn't likely to do that. But, this Bill will be a catalyst for change.”
He dismissed fears that the Bill would ban the sale of bags, explaining that the Bill comprised of a clause banning the use of “shopping bags” followed by exemptions to the ban that included re-usable bags and bags sold as products. The term “shopping bag” was defined in the Bill as a bag that was used specifically for the purposes of transporting goods purchased on the occasion for which the bag was given, Mr Benton said.
London Councils ran a public consultation on its Bill last year, which received 2,500 responses, 91.5% of which were in favour of a ban. Mr Benton revealed that the proposal to ban free disposable shopping bags had been taken instead of a levy because the Treasury was not keen on giving tax-raising powers to London.
Gloucestershire
Other local authorities across the UK are closely monitoring what happens to the London shopping bag Bill, with councillors across England voting to take measures to persuade local retailers to cut down on their use.
Gloucestershire is the latest authority to state its intention to work towards a “county-wide ban on giving away free plastic bags”. The county's Environment Partnership is now looking into legislative and other ways of discouraging bag use.
Cllr Julie Girling, lead cabinet member for environment, said: “We understand that there may be some occasions where using plastic bags is unavoidable, but if everyone just tries their best, together we can tackle this problem. Plastic bags are a blight on our environment and we need to stop that.”
- Degradable bag manufacturer Symphony Environmental has warned against the use of biodegradable bags made using crop-based polymers. Commenting on a report on biofuels by the Environmental Audit Committee of the House of Commons, it said crops used to make polymers displace food production and increase food prices in developing countries. Symphony, based in Hertfordshire, makes degradable bags out of naptha, which it calls “a by-product of oil refining which would otherwise be wasted”.
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