Scotland's plastic bag usage down 80% since 5p charge introduced

Dramatic reduction reflects similar falls in single-use carrier bag consumption in Wales and Northern Ireland, with England to bring in charge this year
Nicola Slawson The Guardian 17 Apr 15;

Plastic bag usage in Scotland has plummeted following the introduction of a 5p charge.

Early figures from retailers show that single-use carrier bag usage has fallen by more than 80% since the charge was introduced on 20 October 2014.

The results are in line with the dramatic reduction in plastic bag usage in Wales, which introduced the charge in 2011. It was also brought in by Northern Ireland in 2013 and a drop in usage of nearly 72% was reported the following year.

Meanwhile, official figures showed last year that the use of plastic bags had risen in the UK for the fourth year in a row to 8.3bn. England has yet to introduce the charge, but it is expected to come into force later in the autumn.

The figures were welcomed by environmental campaigners. Helen Bingham, a spokesperson for Keep Britain Tidy, said: “This is proof that a bag charge does work and significantly cuts carrier bag use in one fell swoop.

“We can’t wait to see it coming to England in October.”

It was also reported on Friday that charities in Scotland have benefited too. Scotland’s environment secretary, Richard Lochhead, announced that four major retailers have donated more than £1m to good causes since signing up to Zero Waste Scotland’s carrier bag commitment.

Marks & Spencer has raised £214,374 for good causes, with funds going to the Marine Conservation Society, WWF, the Orkney sustainable Fishery Improvement Programme and numerous smaller local charities.

Lochhead said he was delighted the charge was making such an impact.

He said: “It suggests that many consumers are now in the habit of reusing bags, which should reduce the amount of litter that blights our communities and natural environment, and costs a fortune to clean up.”

He declared that it was fantastic the charge has raised so much for worthy causes.

Lochead added: “This is just the tip of the iceberg and I am looking forward to seeing fuller figures later in the year.”

Iain Gulland, the chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Over the past six months, we’ve seen an incredible change to shopping habits in Scotland. Shoppers have embraced the 5p charge and rapidly reduced their consumption of single-use carrier bags more readily than we ever hoped.”