The government legislative framework is to introduce a 5pence charge on single use plastic carrier bags in England will be implemented in October 2015. The charge will be legal under the Climate Change Act and will be secondary legislation, making it easier for the charge to become legal.
Following his attendance at the Governments committee on plastic carrier bags at Westminster this week, Independent Packaging Director and Director of Non Government Organisations, Shameem Kazmi feels that the industry needs to do more to overcome the challenges the plastics industry face. The case being presented on behalf of the plastics industry is weak and disproportionate to innovations and technologies that exist today. There needs to be greater collaboration between recyclers, importers and manufactures of plastic carrier bags.
Plastic carrier bags make up less than 1% of litter on our streets. Most litter is from snack food packaging, bottles and cans, taxing plastic bags will make little or no difference to the volume of litter on our streets. However, litter is a problem of social behavior, and is not specific to any one material or product.
A 5pence charge on plastic carrier bags will see a reduction of 60-80% in England. Although the 5pence charge will go to charitable causes, it will still raise around £13m per year to the government in VAT. Proposed exemptions on plastic carrier bags are aimed at stimulating green technologies and innovation in plastic carrier bags. There is also a proposed exemption to smaller retailers, however the footprint produced by smaller retailers is 6% over a supermarket that is 3%. Exemptions maybe confusing but shouldn't discriminate the retailer, the consumer or the supplier. It will be the role of the government and the stakeholders to communicate the messages and benefits of exemptions and measuring the success of these exemptions will be crucial.
Sales of reusable bags and bags for life are expected to increase substantially. There is a concern that supermarkets may start to give Bags for Life away free of charge. Should this happen, it is likely that under this framework, legislation would be enforced and such 'bags for life' would also have a levy. It is also feared that a charge on plastic carrier bags will be the tipping point for further legislative measures on other packaging materials. This whole consultation and framework will cost the government millions of pounds and this is a distraction and diversion. Unfortunately, of all the bigger environmental problems we face today, carrier bags are not one of the critical issues. If only politicians were as keen to address food waste, climate change, biodiversity loss, the collapse of marine fisheries, and a lot more of the environmental problems rather than 'window dressing'.
