The good news, national and international
This section contains news of growing awareness and improving practice in the UK and elsewhere, the most recent at the top. While consumers appear to favour bans or paying for bags, and some governments, states, towns, and shops large and small have taken action to reduce or end their use of plastic bags, these stories do raise further questions and issues: sometimes they announce a forward step that never gets implemented; and when there is real progress, we have to wonder why it doesn't happen everywhere. If Ireland and China, to take just two examples, can act, why can't we?
For local and less happy news, see stories highlighted in side menu.
2010
Dramatic fall in number of plastic bags given out by supermarkets, Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor, The Independent, 26/8/10
"The number of "single-use" plastic bags given to customers by leading UK supermarkets has fallen for the fourth year in a row...The total has dropped from 10.6 billion in 2006 to 6.1 billion in the year to May, a reduction of 43 per cent, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said." But the Indy Business page that day is more sceptical, and a leader calls for a ban. See Leading article: Ban the bags and James Moore: Bags are a problem, whatever the BRC says.
Holland and Barrett becomes the first major high street chain to ban plastic bags (Telegraph, Jan 2010) - lets hope others follow soon!
Boris Johnson sets an Olympic goal for London to be Britain’s first plastic bag-free city
London could become Britain’s first plastic-bag-free city in time for the Olympics in 2012, under plans published today by Boris Johnson to reduce litter and landfill waste. Shoppers will be given greater incentives to bring their own reusable bags, and supermarkets may be encouraged to charge for single-use bags issued at the checkout...
Plastic bag campaigner honoured
Rebecca Hosking, well-known for turning her home town Modbury, in Devon, into the first plastic-bag-free town in the UK, was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours. Well deserved and very good news, though it does raise the question: If the Government values her initiative in Modbury so much, why doesn't it do more to make the whole UK plastic-bag-free?
2009
Wales to introduce compulsory charge for plastic bags, November 2009
In 2011, Wales will become the first nation in the UK to introduce charging for one-trip carrier bags to curb their use. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8339049.stm.
Greener Kingston says:"If Wales can do it, why not the whole UK?"
Ireland to increase tax on plastic bags, Sept 24, 2009
"Ireland has revealed plans to double the tax on plastic bags as a way of protecting the country's environment…The Irish Department of the Environment said the charge would be doubled to ensure a "sufficient deterrent" to shoppers who arrived at checkouts with no bags of their own… The success of the tax has been noted around the world, with countries and communities from Jersey to India considering following the Irish example."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/24/ireland-tax-plastic-bags
A plastic bag anthem?
The brilliant Tim Minchin sings about canvas bags here: "Take your canvas bags when you go to the supermarket..."
The Welsh want to ban plastic bags, July 2009
"Banning plastic bags is the clear winner with people asked to vote on policies they would like taken up by the Welsh Assembly Government."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8123521.stm
July 2009 - 346 million down, only 372 million to go!
Leading supermarkets have narrowly missed a Government target to reduce carrier bag use by 50%. Last year, seven supermarket chains signed up to a voluntary scheme aimed at reducing the number of bags given out by 50%. In May 2006, 718 million bags were being given out, and figures released on July 17 show that by May 2009 the number had almost halved to 372 million, a reduction of 48%, but missing the target by 2%.
Towards a Plastic-Bag-Free Kingston comment: "This is both good news and bad news. It's good that there are fewer plastic bags going into the system, but it still leaves an enormous 372 million - and that's just from these 7 supermarket chains! And it may mean that the promised Government ban or levy on plastic bags will be quietly dropped?
China reports huge drop in plastic bag use, June 2009
Welsh Assembly opens consultation on charging for single use carrier bags, June 2009
The Welsh Assembly says:
”A charge would be introduced through regulations made under the Climate Change Act 2008. The Welsh Assembly Government has long considered single use carrier bags a problem and a waste of resources. Our proposals seek to change public behaviour and lead to an improvement in Wales’ environment in a number of ways:
The use of plastic bags in China has dropped 66 percent since the Chinese parliament banned thin, single-use bags last year.
United Nations Environment Programme Head Calls for World-Wide Ban on Pointless Thin Film Plastic Bags , June, 2009
‘Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "Marine litter is symptomatic of a wider malaise: namely the wasteful use and persistent poor management of natural resources. The plastic bags, bottles and other debris piling up in the oceans and seas could be dramatically reduced by improved waste reduction, waste management and recycling initiatives. "Some of the litter, like thin film single use plastic bags which choke marine life, should be banned or phased-out rapidly everywhere-there is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere.
- helping reduce highly visible plastic bag litter;
- substantially reducing the amount of single use carrier bags;
- lessening the impact on the environment from single use carrier bags;
- encouraging more sustainable behaviour which will help towards combating climate change by increasing environmental awareness.”
Britain's leading supermarkets and high street shops have cut the number of plastic bags being given to customers by 3.5 billion a year, according to waste reduction agency, WRAP. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7913645.stm and http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/billions-fewer-plastic-bags-handed-out-1632392.html
"Shoppers cotton on to bags”: Nottingham shoppers have been swapping their plastic carrier bags for a cotton alternative. Our comment: "If Nottingham traders and shoppers can do it, so can Kingston. In fact, we have noticed more shoppers carrying their own bags and more traders becoming aware of the costs, both financial and environmental. It's good too that the big supermarkets are discouraging plastic bags - but we still think they could do better!" See the news item at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7886802.stm
2008
Sainsbury’s now hides bags under the counter, has prominent signs explaining the new policy, and also offers a text service to remind customers to bring their own bags. W H Smiths in Kingston also appears now to have a policy of asking customers if they want their own bags, and some very good assistants who can explain why.
Best of all, in December 2008 several large supermarket chains announce substantial cuts to their plastic and paper bag usage. Campaigners and customer demand can make a difference, says Towards a Plastic-Bag-Free Kingston. Perhaps this was the result of the the news on 26 November that London Councils withdrew the London Shopping Bag Bill from parliament after the government amended the Climate Change Bill to enable a charge on shopping bags should retailers fail to make a voluntary and significant cut in the number of bags they give out.
Sainsbury encouraging re-use of bags
"From Wednesday 1 October we’ll be removing our free bags from the checkouts to encourage bag re-use. Customers who still require carrier bags will now need to ask ...In June we trialled this idea in some of our stores and the comments from our customers and colleagues was very positive. From this trial we saw a reduction in the number of free plastic bags we give away, as customers used their own or purchased our ‘Bag for life’ instead. This will help in meeting our pledge to halve the number of disposable plastic bags we giveaway for free by April 2009. The great news is that we’re already over half way to achieving our target."
W H Smith to scrap plastic bags
Daily Mirror reports on moves towards scrapping free plastic bags, 19/8/08. See
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/08/19/wh-smith-to-scrap-plastic-bags-115875-20703441/
Tesco takes bags off the checkout
See packagingnews.co.uk, 13/8/08
Tesco is requiring customers at its larger stores to ask checkout operators for single-use plastic carrier bags in a bid to reduce usage.
http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/environment/news/839115/Tesco-takes-bags-off-checkout/
There's more than one way of getting cash from plastic
The Scotsman, 30 July 2008
"BYOB once commonly featured on party invitations indicating to those that were planning to attend that they should bring their own bottle. It could now be equally construed in the retail trade but with reference to bags rather than glass containers.Next week, style store TK Maxx will become the latest high street retailer to improve its green credentials by making its customers pay for plastic bags in a bid to reduce waste and cut the one billion free plastic bags given away in Scotland every year, 80 per cent of which are handed out by supermarkets... The demise of the plastic bag is inevitable.”
Read the full story at http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/There39s-more-than-one-way.4338332.jp
Stores given until spring to cut plastic bags by 70 per cent, Daily Mail, 29th July 2008
"Supermarkets have been told they must slash the number of plastic carrier bags they give to customers by 70 per cent by next spring. The Government has warned stores that a failure to do so voluntarily will trigger a change in the law to put an end to the distribution of free throwaway bags, dubbed 'plastic poison'".... Read the whole story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1039424/Stores-given-spring-cut-plastic-bags-70-cent.html
Will new London mayor Boris Johnson ban bags?
He said he would!
BBC R4, Costing the Earth, 29/5/08: "All Wrapped Up and Nowhere to Go: Plastic bags and packaging are anathema to the environmentalist. Yet the issue is more complex. How much packaging does our food need?" Interesting discussion at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/r...
National Trust introduces 5p charge, 1 May 2008
The National Trust introduces a 5p charge on plastic bags in its shops and plant centres.
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/plastic+bag+fee+at+national+trust/2113252?intcmp=rss_news_itnnews
Leeds, Bradford and Hebden Bridge in the news
BBC News short video-clip about campaign to ban the plastic carrier bag in Leeds and Bradford, and Hebden Bridge, which has gone plastic-bag-free.
Daily Mail launches campaign on plastic bags, February 2008
For coverage of the plastic bag issue in the Daily Mail, with useful facts, stats, pics, links and petition, see:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=519870&in_page_id=1770
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=519433&in_page_id=1770 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=521529&in_page_id=1770&ct=5
"Gordon Brown gives supermarkets one year to start charging for plastic bags ... or else" (Daily Mail, 29/2/08)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=522765&in_page_id=1770
"Why Sarah and I know this is right: Prime Minister Gordon Brown backs the Daily Mail's Banish the Bags campaign" (Daily Mail, 29/2/08) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=522766&in_page_id=1770
China clamps down on plastic bag use, January 2008
China is to ban the use of some plastic bags and to force consumers to pay for others in its latest move to save on resources and ease the pressures on its environment. When will we follow suit?
Read the full story in Guardian Unlimited, Tuesday January 8, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2237307,00.html
2007
On 6 November 2007, Marks & Spencer announced that there would be a trial 5p charge for carrier bags in 33 of its stores in the south-west of England from Sunday 13 January. For three weeks customers in Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall will receive a free M&S Bag for Life with each food transaction. This trial follows a 16-week period of charging 5p per bag in its Northern Ireland stores, which led to a 66% reduction in the number of carriers used. If the West country Trial is successful,M&S will introduce the charge throughout the country.
Our comment: "Where M&S leads other retailers may well follow, so we welcome this move. But we wonder if 5p is enough to deter shoppers and encourage them to use their own bags in an affluent place like Kingston? 50p might be more of a deterrent!" See http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/66823031?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core
A plastic-bag-free High Wycombe town centre came a step closer in November 2007 when a petition with over 1800 signatures called for their ban in a new shopping centre due to open next spring.
Our comment: "We'd be so proud if Kingston became the first large shopping centre to ban plastic and other throw-away shopping bags, but it looks increasingly as if other towns are going to be much quicker to respond to this environmental problem and to get the kudos that goes with being first and being green. Maybe Kingston could be first in London, rather than waiting for the inevitable ban?"
61% approve of charging for bags, The Independent, 17/11/07
Two surveys following the London Council consultation results in November 2007 found wide support for a ban on bags or for charging for them. A British Market Research Bureau found that 61% approved of charging for bags and only 20% thought it a bad idea. Even more encouragingly, a a AC Neilson survery fourn that 84% would not switch to a rival supermarket if their usual store stopped giving away free bags.
Our comment: "Consumers are more environmentally aware than many retailers realise. It's good news that shoppers do not choose stores for their free carrier bags, and we very much hope that Kingston retailers will take note."
London’s council leaders agree to go ahead with a Bill that will seek to ban the distribution of free, throw-away shopping bags in the capital, The Independent, 17/11/07
The decision follows a London-wide consultation organised by London Councils on its proposals to introduce either a levy or a ban on throw-away shopping bags in the capital. Over 90% of people responding to the consultation called for action on shopping bags; nearly 60% felt strongly enough to call for an outright ban.
Our comment: "We welcome the results of this consultation and look forward to a complete ban on plastic bags. However we do wonder how long it will take to implement, and would love to see Kingston retailers taking steps to get ahead of the ban - if we could save a year or two's worth of throw-away bags from ending up as litter or land-fill in Kingston that would be worth doing."
Pre-2007 (when we started)
Bangladesh bans bags in 2002
In Bangladesh plastic bags have been banned completely since early 2002. They were found to have been the main cause of the 1988 and 1998 floods that submerged two-thirds of the country because discarded bags were choking the drainage system.
Bombay bans bags, 2000
Bombay stepped up its campaign against plastic bags in 2001, with police raids on factories and shops manufacturing or handling them. The council banned the bags in 2000 to stop them littering the streets and clogging up the city's sewerage system. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1329600.stm
