The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra, London; www.defra.gov.uk) is studying all relevant evidence in its considerations on whether to impose a levy on single-use carrier bags in England, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the scheme introduced in Wales in October 2011 – see Plasteurope.com of 18.03.2011 – and the results of the consultation in Scotland that has led to the decision to introduce a similar charge – see Plasteurope.com of 03.07.2012.

Farming Minister David Heath said his department was awaiting analysis of the first full year’s results since the five pence (5p) tax was introduced in Wales.

Heath said, some 8 bn thin gauge, plastic carrier bags were issued in the UK in 2011. If reusable bags, such as bags for life, are included, the total rises to 8.4 bn. The voluntary agreement with retailers between 2006 and 2008 reduced the overall impact of carrier bags by about 40% as signatories to the agreement encouraged the reuse of carrier bags, increased their recycled content and reduced their weight, among other measures. A second agreement with supermarkets between 2006 and 2009 focused on reducing the number of bags distributed and achieved a total reduction of 48% against the 2006 baseline. Despite some evidence of a reversal in the trend – see Plasteurope.com of 12.07.2012 – the latest figures, the minister emphasised, show an overall decline in bag usage of 32% compared with 2006.

Support for the introduction of a bag tax in England has been escalating recently. Advocates of such a scheme include the Liberal Democrats, the Greater London Assembly, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Keep Britain Tidy.