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Plastic bag charge: Shoppers in England have to pay 5p Plastic bag charge: Shoppers in England have to pay 5p
(35 minutes later)
Many shoppers in England will have to pay 5p for plastic carrier bags from Monday in a bid to slash the 7.6 billion handed out every year.Many shoppers in England will have to pay 5p for plastic carrier bags from Monday in a bid to slash the 7.6 billion handed out every year.
Shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops will be required to use their own bags or be charged for plastic bags.Shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops will be required to use their own bags or be charged for plastic bags.
Environmentalists have welcomed the move, but have called for a more comprehensive scheme that includes all retailers and all types of bags.Environmentalists have welcomed the move, but have called for a more comprehensive scheme that includes all retailers and all types of bags.
England is the last part of the UK to start charging for bags.England is the last part of the UK to start charging for bags.
Some exemptions
Retailers with 250 or more employees must charge at least 5p for the bags they provide for shopping in stores and for deliveries, but smaller shops and paper bags are exempt.Retailers with 250 or more employees must charge at least 5p for the bags they provide for shopping in stores and for deliveries, but smaller shops and paper bags are exempt.
Free bags will still be provided for consumers buying uncooked meat, poultry or fish, prescription medicine, certain fresh produce such as flowers or potatoes, and unwrapped ready-to-eat food such as chips.Free bags will still be provided for consumers buying uncooked meat, poultry or fish, prescription medicine, certain fresh produce such as flowers or potatoes, and unwrapped ready-to-eat food such as chips.
The exemptions mean the move may not be as successful as schemes introduced elsewhere in the UK, campaigners argue.The exemptions mean the move may not be as successful as schemes introduced elsewhere in the UK, campaigners argue.
What is being done elsewhere?
All you need to know about the 5p charge
Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can remain in landfill for hundreds of years.
The government expects the English scheme to cut use of plastic carrier bags by up to 80% in supermarkets, and by 50% on the High Street. It is expected to save £60m in litter clean-up costs as well as generate £730m for good causes over the next decade.
But Alice Ellison, of the British Retail Consortium, said the charge sent out a "confusing, complex message" to customers, adding England should have adopted the same policy as the rest of the UK - where all shops charge customers for all types of disposable bag.
A poll for the Break the Bag Habit coalition of litter charities found 62% of shoppers in England - six percentage points higher than in 2012 - thought it was "reasonable" to charge 5p for carrier bags.
Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Asda all said customers were reacting positively to the charge, and it was "business as usual" in their stores.
What do people think?What do people think?
People have been messaging the BBC with their comments:
Brenda Chapman said: "I can see the logic in charging for supermarket bags but if I buy a book or clothes I expect a bag to transport it home in"Brenda Chapman said: "I can see the logic in charging for supermarket bags but if I buy a book or clothes I expect a bag to transport it home in"
Raymond in Bedford said: "Very happy about the charge for plastic bags, they should never have been introduced in the first place. What an environmental disaster they have proven to be"Raymond in Bedford said: "Very happy about the charge for plastic bags, they should never have been introduced in the first place. What an environmental disaster they have proven to be"
Katharine in Poole, Dorset, said: "In the 1970s, Safeways used to provide paper sacks for free but charge for plastic carriers. Why doesn't the government revert to something like this?"Katharine in Poole, Dorset, said: "In the 1970s, Safeways used to provide paper sacks for free but charge for plastic carriers. Why doesn't the government revert to something like this?"
Plastic bags are not biodegradable and can remain in landfill for hundreds of years.
The government expects the English scheme to cut use of plastic carrier bags by up to 80% in supermarkets, and by 50% on the High Street. It is expected to save £60m in litter clean-up costs as well as generate £730m for good causes over the next decade.
But Alice Ellison, of the British Retail Consortium, said the charge sent out a "confusing, complex message" to customers, adding England should have adopted the same policy as the rest of the UK, where all shops charge for all types of disposable bag.
What is being done elsewhere?
All you need to know about the 5p charge
A poll for the Break the Bag Habit coalition of litter charities found 62% of shoppers in England - six percentage points higher than in 2012 - thought it was "reasonable" to charge 5p for carrier bags.
Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Asda all said customers were reacting positively to the charge, and it was "business as usual" in their stores.
The number of plastic bags given out by major supermarkets in England has risen by 200 million in the past two years to exceed 7.6 billion last year - the equivalent of 140 per person and amounting to 61,000 tonnes in total.The number of plastic bags given out by major supermarkets in England has risen by 200 million in the past two years to exceed 7.6 billion last year - the equivalent of 140 per person and amounting to 61,000 tonnes in total.
Friends of the Earth said the charge would significantly reduce this figure but also called for it to apply to smaller shops.Friends of the Earth said the charge would significantly reduce this figure but also called for it to apply to smaller shops.
Environment minister Rory Stewart said it could make a huge difference, "meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country".Environment minister Rory Stewart said it could make a huge difference, "meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country".
Have you been out shopping today? What difference has this change made? Will it change the way you shop? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.Have you been out shopping today? What difference has this change made? Will it change the way you shop? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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