Price of single-use plastic bags doubles to 10p in all shops in England

More than 7.6 billion single-use plastic bags were sold by the seven main supermarkets alone in 2014 before the 5p charge came into force

The cost of single-use plastic bags will double to 10p and apply in all shops in England from today.

Until now, stores which employ 250 people or less have been exempt and been able to hand out bags for free.

The Government said since the 5p levy on plastic bags was introduced in England in 2015, the number of single-use bags distributed by large supermarkets has fallen by more than 95%.

The average person in England now buys just four single-use bags a year, compared to 140 back in 2014.

But campaigners said there has been a huge increase in sales of larger bags for life in the same period.

Supermarkets make tens of millions of pounds a year in sales of plastic bags.

Retailers are ‘expected’ by the Government to donate all proceeds from single-use plastic bag sales to good causes including environmental charities.

The Big Bag Ban, which is calling for an outright ban on all plastic bags, said the 10 biggest supermarkets donated £65 million from single-use bag sales to charity in 2016-17.  

The new 10p levy applies to smaller retailers previously exempted from the law (Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

But this fell to £9 million in 2019-20 because they are not obliged to donate proceeds from bags for life.

Greenpeace has also criticised ministers for not taking enough action on bags for life and said the Government should be taking ‘great strides’ not ‘small steps’ to tackle the climate crisis.

CPRE, the countryside charity, called for action to be taken on all single-use items, such as takeaway cups and forks.

Deputy chief executive Tom Fyans said: ‘To truly step up and face the war on plastic, Government should bring in charges on all single-use, throwaway items – from takeaway cups to wooden forks.

‘Incentivising reuse systems and finally committing to an all-in Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers are the only ways the Government can achieve a litter-free countryside and win the war on waste.’

Major supermarkets outlined to Metro.co.uk the measures they have taken to limit their environmental impact.

Tesco and Sainsbury’s have both stopped selling single-use bags and will replace and recycle worn-out bags for life for free, while Iceland has 50 stores that are completely plastic bag free.

Almost 100 million plastic bags will be removed in total, which equates to 1.9 million a week (Picture: Morrisons)

Morrisons announced last month that it will completely remove plastic carrier bags from its stores over the next year. Co-op made the same pledge and vowed to remove them from its 2,600 stores.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: ‘Everyone wants to play their part in reducing the scourge of plastic waste that blights our environment and oceans. The 5p bag charge has been hugely successful, but we can go further.

‘From today we will increase the charge to 10p and extend it to all businesses. This will support the ambitious action we have already taken in our fight against plastic as we build back greener.

‘We have banned the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, banned microbeads in personal care products, and we are consulting on a new deposit return scheme for drinks containers.’

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from metro.co.uk