5p charge on plastic bags leads to 85% fall in usage

5p charge on plastic bags leads to 85% fall in usage - good or bad?

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 and, as the evidence now shows, has had huge effect on the number of bags used but says the problem is actually a small one in the grand scheme of things. He said that the unintended consequences of the charge will out way the benefits and may lead to increased landfill due to increased paper bag use and the throwing out of reusable bags, problems for shop workers and possible employment levels where shops with fewer than 250 workers are exempt and more customers choosing online grocery shopping and even potential health issues with bacteria found in unwashed reusable bags!

As with any policy decision, there will be benefits and consequences. On the surface this charge may appear to have an effective and positive outcome but if you look deeper, it may not be so positive after all.

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