Single-use plastic bags will cost 10p by 2020, government says
Single-use plastic bags will cost 10p at all stores across the UK by 2020, under new plans announced by the government.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said he's doubling the levy in a consultation paper, and extending it to smaller retailers in England who have so far been exempt from the charges, in a bid to further tackle plastic waste. Independent stores with less than 250 staff in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already enforce the 5p charge.
The 5p plastic levy was introduced in October 2015. Since then, environmental charities and conservationists say they have seen a marked decline in plastic waste on our shorelines and in our seas.
But, according to the BBC, 3.6 billion single-use plastic bags are still handed out by small businesses in England every year. Only a fifth (around 40,000) charge shoppers for a bag under a voluntary agreement.
Mr Gove said: "The 5p single-use plastic carrier bag charge has been extremely successful in reducing the amount of plastic we use in our everyday lives.
"Between us, we have taken over 15 billion plastic bags out of circulation. But we want to do even more to protect our precious planet and today’s announcement will accelerate further behaviour change and build on the success of the existing charge."
Education Secretary Damian Hinds has also called on schools to find sustainable alternatives to plastic straws, bottles and food packaging.
In October, the EU announced plastic straws, cutlery and plates and cotton buds would all be outlawed across its member states by 2021 in an attempt to reduce pollution levels in the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean.
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