nored calls to include all retailers in the 5p plastic bag charge, due to come into force in England in October 2015. Ministers have opted to exempt small retailers from enforcing the levy, which it says would be unfair and costly to small businesses such as local newsagents and convenience stores. The Government has ignored calls to include all retailers in the 5p plastic bag charge, due to come into force in England in October 2015.
Ministers have opted to exempt small retailers from enforcing the levy, which it says would be unfair and costly to small businesses such as local newsagents and convenience stores.
The Environmental Audit Committee said this exemption will limit the benefits it brings in terms of reducing litter, waste and harm to wildlife.
The government has accepted that there could be problems caused to the UK’s recycling industry by the proposed exemption for ‘biodegradable plastic bags’, and this will not be included when the charge is introduced next year.
Chair of the Committee, Joan Walley MP, said the bag levy is the right solution.
“It will reduce litter, cut carbon emissions and reduce waste. Despite our Committee’s recommendations, the government has decided not to apply the charge across the board, but to go ahead with its proposed exemptions.”
The Committee insisted this proposed exemption for small retailers was not supported by the Association of Convenience Stores, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents or the British Retail Consortium.
The Committee had recommended the government not proceed with its plan for a biodegradable plastic bag exemption because of the risk of contamination to plastic recycling and the potential confused messages shoppers would get.
The government concluded that a biodegradable plastic exemption will not be included in the legislation until standards for the bags have been finalised.
“I am pleased, however, that the government has conceded that the proposed exemption for biodegradable plastic bags could cause problems for the UK’s recycling industry and will now not be included when the charge is introduced next year,” added Walley.
However, the decision not to exempt bio-degradable bags was criticised by some manufacturers.
Novamont, the Italian manufacturer of the Mater-Bi biodegradable plastic bags which are commonly used in Milan, said it was concerned about potentially lengthy delays to the introduction of an exemption – which it said could slow down investment and be damaging for the UK’s bioplastics and composting industries.
Tony Breton, UK strategist for Novamont, said: “The Government should speed up the exemption process by using existing robust standards for compostable plastics, rather than go through the lengthy process of creating new standards for plastics which do not currently exist.”
In the Queen’s speech, the government announced its intention to introduce the charge.
The government’s proposals for England only apply to plastic bags. Unlike the rest of the UK, and not to paper bags, which are distributed by some retailers.
