The single-use carrier bag charge has prevented millions of harmful plastic bags from destroying our towns and countryside, according to new statistics released today (29 July).
Since the 5p charge was implemented in supermarkets in 2015, usage at the major retailers has decreased by a startling 97%.
In the meantime, retailers have voluntarily donated more than £200 million to worthy causes during that time.
Due to the fee, the typical English person now purchases three single-use carrier bags from the major supermarkets annually, down from about 140 in 2014.
Last year, the fee was raised to 10p and made applicable to all businesses.
This has further assisted in reducing the amount of bags used, which has decreased from 627 million in 2019–20 to 496 million in 202–21.
Steve Double, the environment minister, said:
In addition to protecting our environment and ensuring that millions of pounds are donated to deserving causes, our plastic bag charge has put an end to the sale of billions of single-use bags.
To address the issue of plastic waste, there is still much to be done. To combat littering and increase recycling rates, we are building on our bans on single-use plastic and implementing the deposit return programme for bottles.
The number of single-use carrier bags reported by the major retailers decreased by 27% to 197 million in 2021/22, from 271 million in the prior comparable year*.
Compared to the 7.6 billion used in 2014, before the charge was implemented, this is a significant decrease.
Retailers gave £10 million in 2021/22 to charities, causes chosen by customers and employees, or good causes in the fields of education, the arts, sports, heritage, environment, and health.
Sector Specialist for Resource Management at WRAP, Adam Herriot, stated:
Flexibles continue to be one of the most prevalent plastics in our bins, but, like pots, tubs, and trays, the tide is now turning against flexible plastics.
Nearly 5,000 retailers across the country now offer front-of-store collections where customers may dispose of their used bags.
We no longer need to worry about single-use bags when we buy because we have a convenient place to drop them so they can be recycled.
This continues the government’s efforts to reduce plastic waste.
This year, we implemented a plastic packaging tax that is unmatched in the world, and our deposit return programme will guarantee that billions more beverage bottles and cans are returned to retailers and recycled.
We already have restrictions on the sale of plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds, as well as a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products.
We have held consultations regarding the prohibition of single-use plastic plates, cups made of specific types of polystyrene, and cutlery.
We are also examining the evidence regarding other hazardous single-use plastics, such as wet wipes.
*It is crucial to highlight that because to special conditions related to the Covid-19 epidemic, the results for 2020–21 cannot be directly compared with those from other years.