Team Blitz India
LONDON: The United Kingdom has been able to bring down the use of plastic bags after the introduction of separate pricing for such carriers, according to a statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
New figures announced by Environment Minister Rebecca Pow showed more than seven billion harmful plastic bags have been prevented from spoiling the environment, thanks to the singleuse carrier bag charge.
A price was first introduced in 2015, with a 5p charge introduced in supermarkets. Since then, usage at the main retailers dropped by more than 98 per cent, the release added.
33 per cent reduction
The number of single-use carrier bags reported as sold by the main retailers was 133 million in 2022-23. This was less than 197 million in 2021-2022, representing a reduction of 33 per cent. This is a huge drop from the 7.6 billion used in 2014.
In 2021, the charge was increased to 10p and extended to all businesses. This has helped bring down the number of bags used by more than 35 per cent from 627 million in 2019-20 to 406 million in 2022-23.
Meanwhile, retailers have voluntarily donated more than £206 million from the proceeds to good causes in education, arts, heritage, sports, environment, health and charity or volunteering sectors since the charge’s introduction.
Environment Act
In April 2022, the Government introduced a tax of more than £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the country that does not contain at least 30 per cent recycled plastic.
Through the Environment Act, the United Kingdom is bringing in further measures to tackle plastic pollution and litter. This includes introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and plans for simpler recycling collections for every household and business in England.
