NI proposes to increase carrier bag levy

A 5p levy on single-use carrier bags came into force in NI on April 8 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story), but a new Carrier Bags Bill debated in the NI Assembly yesterday (June 12) proposes to increase the levy on both single and multi-use low cost carrier bags to 10p in April 2014.

Mr Attwood said the 5p charge on single-use bags had been enthusiastically received by consumers and retailers but that if multi-use bags continued to be excluded from the charge they could be treated by consumers as throw-away bags.

The current 5p charge applies to all single use bags, including those made from plastic, paper, plant-based material and natural starch. Reusable bags, bags used to for take-away hot food and drinks and bags used solely for unpackaged food and medical products are exempt.

Funds generated from the levy are used by the Department of the Environment to support community and voluntary projects across the country.

Alex Attwood said: The welcome for the levy confirmed to me that people here wanted to help tackle the issue of waste and make local efforts to address climate threat. I want to build on this momentum and peoples clear ambitions. That is what the new Bill aims to do.

He added that as a result of the 5p levy, a target carrier bag reduction of 80% is within our reach.

He said: The existing 5 pence levy gives consumers time to get used to bringing their own bags when they shop. However my Departments modelling suggests that a 10 pence levy is the amount which will maintain the downward trend in carrier bag consumption.

It is my intention to increase the levy for single use bags and low cost reusable bags from 5p to 10p next April. I will, before I set the price threshold for reusable bags, hear what stakeholders including representatives from the retail sector have to say.

UK bag charging

Northern Ireland is the UKs second devolved administration to introduce a bag levy, after Wales began charging 5p for single use plastic and paper carrier bags in October 2011. Retailers estimated that the number of single-use bags issued had fallen by between 70 and 96% (see letsrecycle.com story). However, there are currently no plans to increase or extend this bag levy in Wales.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is due to publish the results of a consultation held last year into the possible introduction of a 5p carrier bag levy (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said it is waiting on data analysis of the bag levy in Wales before it makes a decision on whether to impose a charge on single-use carrier bags in England (see letsrecycle.com story).