The Government estimated in March this year that there were 490 million single-use carrier bags in circulation in Wales and held a consultation, which ended last month (September 21), on proposals to introduce a charge of between five and 15 pence per bag (see letsrecycle.com story).
AEA looked at what would be the most effective measure to limit the distribution of bags through voluntary schemes, public awareness campaigns or taxation.
The report estimated that at the current rate of consumption, taking into account the impact of existing voluntary agreements, there are around 459 million single-use bags in circulation. It claimed that this would fall to 267 million if a charge was placed on plastic carrier bags and by a further 64% to 95 million bags in circulation if the charge was extended to both plastic and paper carrier bags.
The report concludes: “On balance it is concluded here that there is a good logic and evidence for progressing with action to reduce bag use beyond the ambition level set by the existing voluntary agreement in the UK.”
Ireland
In assessing the various charging systems currently in use in the UK and further afield, AEA gave particular attention to the scheme introduced in Ireland and called it a “particularly attractive model” which pushed people towards using bags-for-life.
The report outlines that the introduction of the Irish Plastax Levy in 2002 which introduced a €0.15 (£0.13) per bag charge – which rose to €0.22 (£0.20) five years later – helped reduce the use of single use carrier bags by over 90%. It also claimed that the levy helped plastic bags fall from comprising of 5% of Irish litter to less than 0.3%.
However, the report did explain that since the introduction of the charging scheme there had been a “small increase in shoplifting” in the country, with anecdotal evidence suggesting it was easier for people to steal items when large numbers of people carried their own bags, because it was harder to determine what they had brought into the shop with them.
The report also looked at voluntary agreements already put in place by UK retailers, such as IKEA and Marks and Spencer. It claimed that the use of these schemes had led to “significant reductions” in single-use carrier bag distribution and that they had also helped raise consumer awareness of the issue.
In assessing the importance of retailer initiatives, AEA stated: “The fact that retailers are prepared to ban plastic bags or charge for them in the absence of legislation demonstrates the strength of feeling on the issue.”
Recommendations
In summary, AEA gave a list of recommendations to help Wales introduce an effective charge. This included ensuring that the charge was between 10 and 15 pence per bag, defining the bag specifications as in Ireland, undertaking early consultation with retailers and launching a country-wide awareness campaign before any initiative is introduced.
Welcoming the report, environment minister Jane Davidson said the findings of the AEA report “backs up my view” that the introduction of charge would be the most effective way to curb single-use carrier bag distribution in the country.
“As this report shows, we are behind the curve on this issue,” added the minister. “In countries as diverse as China, Japan through to Finland, Iceland and Italy some form of charge is the norm. Consumers in our closest neighbours in Europe are used to paying for carrier bags when they visit the shops. With our plans we hope this will soon be the norm here in Wales.”
The Welsh Assembly Government is set to publish its response to the consultation on introducing a charge for single-use carrier bags in a few months' time.
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