EconomicsToo

The impact of the introduction of the 5p charge on plastic bags in English supermarkets saw their usage fall from 7 billion to just over 500 million. This is obviously as massive drop and the main reason for the charge being introduced, so many would argue it has been a success. Image source:  http://greenmelocally.com/california-plastic-bag-ban/ Why reduce the usage of plastic bags? The main reason is down to the negative externalities of plastic bag usage. This page on the Ocean Crusaders website lists many of the key issues caused by discarded plastic bags to the oceans alone, including 1 million seabirds dying a year, ingestion by huge numbers of fish and that there is believed to be 46,000 pieces of discarded plastic in every square mile of ocean.   However, this Telegraph article  by Peter Spence argues that plastic bags make up only a tiny percentage, between 0.1 and 1%, of total rubbish, although about 2% of litter on beaches. Spence reports that the 5p charge will