October 5th 2024.
Before 2014, plastic bags were given out for free to shoppers. It's hard to believe, but it's been almost a decade since the 5p carrier bag charge was implemented on October 5, 2015. Can you imagine, a staggering 7.6 billion single-use carrier bags were handed out to shoppers for free before this date? In today's world, that would be unheard of. But if we take a look back, has this scheme truly helped and benefited consumers?
The idea behind the 5p bag charge was to reduce the use of single-use carrier bags and the amount of litter they caused. Before the charge was implemented, the Department for Environmental and Rural Affairs found that 140 bags were given out per person each year, totaling to 61,000 tonnes in total. These bags also take a long time to degrade, causing harm to wildlife and creating an eyesore when littered in towns, parks, and the countryside. It became clear that the government needed to take action.
Research by Defra revealed that the average household had 40 plastic bags lying around, despite the number of bags taken from supermarkets increasing for five consecutive years in 2014. To encourage shoppers to use reusable bags, the 5p charge was introduced. These bags, often known as "bags for life," are much better for the environment. And even when they wear out, they can be returned to the shops for a free replacement. It's a win-win situation.
So, what has been the impact of this charge since its implementation? According to waste reduction charity Wrapped, there has been a significant improvement. In the 2019-20 period, supermarkets gave out just 564 million single-use carrier bags, a drastic reduction from over 7.4 billion in 2014. This amounts to a 95% decrease in England alone. And as if that wasn't impressive enough, the revenue collected from the charge has raised £180 million for good causes.
But the positive effects don't stop there. In May 2021, the charge for single-use carrier bags increased from 5p to a minimum of 10p. This is expected to have an even greater impact over the next decade, according to Defra. And the decrease in single-use plastic bags has also had a positive effect on our oceans. The Marine Conservation Society found an 80% reduction in plastic bags on UK beaches over the past decade. This has led the MCS to urge other countries to follow the UK's example.
However, it's not all good news. In 2023, there was a 14% increase in drinks-related litter in Scotland and a 7% increase in England compared to 2022. Overall, there has been a 1.2% increase in plastic litter across the UK, with an average of 167 items per 100 meters. The top five culprits are crisp and sandwich wrappers, caps and lids, plastic string and cord, and plastic bottles and containers. While we have made progress with single-use plastic bags, there is still a long way to go to eliminate littering entirely.
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