‘UK has left us behind on plastic bag charge’

The island introduced a voluntary 5p charge on single-use carrier bags in supermarkets in 2008, ahead of the UK bringing in a law in October 2015 to do the same.

That law saw a 86% reduction in plastic bag use with 15 billion taken out of circulation.

The UK Government outlined plans yesterday to double the charge, to 10p each, for all shops.

Former Environment minister Deputy David De Lisle, one of the original leaders of the change here, said he believed Guernsey needed to develop its stance.

‘The UK consultation measures through DEFRA [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] are a set of proposals intended to be implemented in 2020 and will affect all retailers across the board.

‘In Guernsey, Environment & Infrastructure has to take initiative to follow suit,’ he said.

‘It disappoints me that we were leaders in this area in 2008 while I was on Environment, not only with a 5p levy but also with guarantees that the money collected by the food retailers would be utilised for environmental projects.

‘That was a first step. I was hopeful that it would be expanded into non-food retail at the time. ‘We need to step up to the plate,’ he said.

Deputy Peter Roffey, who was also instrumental in promoting the 2008 charge, said it should be understood that the situation was different between the UK and Guernsey.

‘In the UK, the government sets the plastic bag charge but in Guernsey it was/is a voluntary arrangement agreed by all of the island’s supermarkets.

‘Guernsey introduced its charges ahead of the UK but behind Ireland, who were the trail blazers in this respect.

‘When it came in here I know that the Co-op’s plastic bag use dropped by about 90% and I suspect they were typical of all supermarkets.

‘I suspect that if the States wanted it to apply to all shops they would need to make it a sort of government regulation but ideally the situation with the supermarkets could simply be replicated with all other shops agreeing to charge for bags ensuring a level playing field,’ said Deputy Roffey, a former CI Co-op director.

Environment & Infrastructure president Deputy Barry Brehaut agreed he wanted retailers to take action.

‘I’d like to see shops leading the way in not making the provision for plastic bags. Most people in France know you can’t go into a retailer without a bag.

‘It takes some political pressure and if that doesn’t work there should be legislation as a last resort.

‘There’s nothing planned at the moment to make other retailers than supermarkets charge for bags.

‘The convenience stores are probably the worst for this if you just go in to buy a carton of milk they’ll put it in a bag before you’ve even asked for one. This could be helped by the retailer and a bit of public awareness,’ he said.

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the 5p charge applies to all retailers, but only supermarkets in England.

Half of the small shops in England charge for plastic bags voluntarily.