Carrier Bag charge Wales
The following article is from the Welsh Government's 'Carrier Bag Charge Wales' website:
The Welsh Government wants to drastically reduce the number of bags given away in Wales. So from 1 October 2011, there will be a minimum charge of 5p on all single use carrier bags.
The minimum 5p charge should be enough to reduce how many bags are given out without creating a burden or preventing you from impulse shopping.
You will be charged for a bag wherever you shop. But no one has to pay the charge. You can avoid the charge by taking your own bags shopping with you.
What is a single-use carrier bag?
Single use carrier bags are given out to help you take your shopping away. They are not made to be reused.
What is the problem with single-use carrier bags?
When you go shopping, you are likely to be given at least one free bag. Then you are given another the next time. We tend to only use them once, which is a waste of resources and can become a litter problem.
Reasons for the charge
During 2009-10, in Wales we took home an estimated 350 million carrier bags from major supermarkets. This is a staggering 273 bags per household! It doesn’t include the bags we receive when shopping at high street and smaller shops.
Members of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) made a voluntary agreement to reduce the number of single-use carrier bags issued by 50% by May 2009 (compared to May 2006).
The Welsh Government believes that Wales is different because the public is being made aware of the charge starting in 2011. Without the charge, carrier bag use in Wales could also increase.
For more information on Welsh Government policies on single-use carrier bags, please visit the Welsh Government website.
Visit: Welsh Government’s web pages on single-use carrier bags
