The initiative, based on March 2015 legislation, is aimed at encouraging recycling, diminishing litter, and reducing the proliferation of single-use plastic carrier bags.
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Experts are now examining options for biodegradable bags to replace the existing single-use plastic bags, which are produced primarily of fossil-fuel-derived polyethylene.
Supermarkets and other large retailers will charge 5p for every carrier bag they hand out under new rules set to come into force next month.
Any retailer employing 250 members of staff or more will be required to charge 5p for every single-use plastic carrier bag they hand out to customers.
This will also limit litter and pollution which now stands a substantial issue.
Well, according to figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), 7.64bn plastic bags were handed out to customers in supermarkets in 2014 in England, an increase of more than 200million compared to 2013.
That’s the equivalent to 61,000 tonnes in total. At this point, shoppers will not pay for paper bags, or for bags used to contain flowers, live fish, plant bulbs, prescription medications, raw meat or fish, seeds, uncovered blades, or unwrapped food items.
Shops in places of “transit”, such as airports, or on board trains, aeroplanes or ships, will also be exempt.
WE are all probably more conscious of using carrier bags.
Where will the money from the charges go to?
Of course, a few large retailers have already pledged to give the money they receive to charities, but not all have specified which organisations will benefit. This applies to supermarkets as well as online delivery companies.
Previous year in the United Kingdom around 8.3 billion plastic bags were used, meaning that around £345 million of revenue will be raised through the scheme, once Value-Added Tax has been paid.
Tesco has alerted its customers that unless you choose bagless delivery there will be a 40p flat charge for home shopping.
The charge for single-use bags sees England catching up with the rest of the United Kingdom, with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all having reported dramatic falls in consumption after similar schemes were introduced.
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Following the introduction of the charge, the Government expects to see a reduction of up to 80 per cent in the use of single-use carrier bags in supermarkets and 50 per cent on the high street in England, as well as £60m saved in litter clean-up costs and £730 million generated for good causes. Get involved in our conversation on our Facebook page and tweet us your opinions.
