New charge could cut carrier bag use by 90 per cent

30 September 2011

Shoppers in Wales will have a new reason to say no to throw-away carrier bags from Saturday (October 1), as a charge of 5p per bag begins.

Friends of the Earth local groups all around Wales led the campaign for the new levy, as a similar charge in Ireland saw carrier bag use drop by more than 90 per cent [1].

Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"This has been a popular campaign that's been supported by environmentalists, businesses, shoppers and schools all over Wales.

"Friends of the Earth local groups in Abergavenny, Llangollen, Pontypridd, Caerphilly, Carmarthen, Chepstow and elsewhere have worked long and hard to show that people want to do something positive about tackling the throw-away attitude.

"Using a bag hundreds of times, instead of opting for a new bag for each purchase, cuts waste and reduces pressure on the world's finite resources. And we have to consider what happens to the carrier bag after use - plastic bags take over 500 years to decay, create litter in our streets and countryside and can be dangerous for wildlife."

"Friends of the Earth groups in Wales have campaigned tirelessly for this charge, and I'm delighted that our supporters' work has finally been rewarded by this ground-breaking legislation."

"A similar plastic bag levy has had a massive impact and been very popular in Ireland. I'm confident that the people of Wales will embrace this new environmental measure as enthusiastically as have our Celtic cousins."

NOTES

1. Irish bag tax hailed success

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577