No really, just ban them already!

By Trash Talk on Nov 6, 09 02:23 PM

The most recent news on the war against plastic bags is an announcement from Wales (where an estimated 480 million bags are used every year). Environment Minister Jane Davidson is proposing that shoppers pay between 5p and 15p for each bag they use.

Walesonline described the plan as radical - which suggests to me that the writer needs to get out a bit more. I hardly think forcing a charge for plastic bags counts as radical. After all some shops already charge for carrier bags, some towns have successfully banned them, Ireland has levied a tax on them and we are paying for them anyway in the price at the checkout - a shop does not give anything away for free!

As I have said before I am getting a little bit bored with the debate about plastic shopping bags (AKA one use plastic bags), just ban them already.

A mandatory charge for a bag sounds a good idea but look at the hidden cost. The cost to the retailer will be the records they have to keep about the charge - the numbers sold, money taken in, what has been done with the money - and supply to Welsh ministers, trading standards and members of the public. The money raised will possibly be used to fund environmental projects; so, a committee would have to set up to award the money - which means more money.

If I was a retailer in Wales I would just ban plastic bags from my shop and save myself the money and hassle of being saddled with the record keeping needed for the new scheme.