Carrier bags could cost 20p each

6 Nov 2008

Shoppers in Wales could be charged 20p for plastic carrier bags at checkouts under new proposals put forward by a committee of AMs.

The Sustainability Committee said the fee would raise £13 million a year for environmental causes and cut litter by encouraging people to keep reusable bags.

It rejected calls for an outright ban because it would be too difficult to enforce, especially along the border with England if Wales went it alone, committee chairman Mick Bates said.

He said legislation going through Parliament would give Welsh ministers the power to impose a levy on bags, 648 million of which are used in Wales every year.

AMs were impressed by a similar bag tax in Ireland which had cut their use by 90%, Liberal Democrat AM Mr Bates said.

He said: "We decided a ban was going to be difficult to implement and that the evidence, particularly from Ireland and Marks & Spencer, found a levy was very helpful to do good environmental works with."

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: "I have been concerned about the impact of free plastic carrier bags for some time and support strong action to encourage retailers to stop using them."

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