21/09/2012

Poll Shows Support For 5p Carrier Bag Charge

A new poll has suggested that a majority of people think a 5p charge on single-use carrier bags should be introduced in England to cut litter and waste.

The poll of 1,752 English adults found that 56% agreed a 5p carrier bag charge was not unreasonable even in a time of austerity, as it had been proved to reduce litter and waste.

Some 75% said they would try to cut down on the use of new plastic bags if there were a 5p charge on them.

The survey was carried out by a coalition of groups pushing for the government to bring in a bag levy in England.

The Break the Bag Habit campaign of conservation and anti-litter groups wants the government in England to bring in a charge on plastic bags, which they say end up littering the streets, countryside and beaches or damaging marine wildlife.

The latest figures showed the number of carrier bags being given out by supermarkets rose by more than 5% last year across the UK, the second annual rise in a row, with customers using almost 8bn carrier bags in 2011.

In Wales, where a 5p charge was introduced last October, the amount of single-use bags being taken home has fallen significantly. Northern Ireland is bringing in a charge next year and Scotland is consulting on doing the same.

(H)


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