Chancellor shies from clear call for carrier charge

With a staggering 254 carrier bags given out every second in the UK last year and the amount of carrier bag litter not declining, it is frustrating Chancellor George Osborne failed to announce that the Government will support the introduction of a charge on single-use carrier bags in his Autumn Statement.

As seen in Wales, a 5p charge on all single-use carrier bags has proven popular with over 70% of shoppers, who have adapted quickly to taking their own bags with them, and there has subsequently been up to a 96% decrease in the number of bags given out.

Samantha Harding for the Break the Bag Habit campaign said: "As the country continues to face economic difficulties, it is inexplicable that the Chancellor has failed to support a scheme with such obvious benefits. Litter and waste are reduced, retailers save money – savings that can be passed onto shoppers – and shoppers only need to buy bags when they need them, rather than having the cost of everybody’s bags hidden in the price of the products they buy. Revenue from the scheme is passed on by retailers to social and environmental projects, helping to support local communities and local councils can save money in their clean-up costs.”

Sam concluded: “At this rate, every country in the UK will be enjoying these benefits apart from England – a situation that contradicts both this Government’s commitment to being the greenest government ever and its statements about working towards a zero waste society. As the Government said a decision on this issue would be made in 2012 – which now seems very unlikely – we urge for this scheme’s approval in England early in 2013.”