17 July 2009
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 today 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: "Sorry to carp, but that still leaves an enormous 372 million - and that's just from these 7 supermarket chains Does this mean that the promised ban or compulsion or levy on plastic bags will be introduced? We can but hope!"
See item on Channel 4 News at http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/supermarkets+drop+plastic+bag+use+by+346+million/3270662
or http://tinyurl.com/m7dym8
or Guardian report http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/17/plastic-bag-revolt-halves-use