England to increase price of plastic bags to 10p from May 21

The price of the single-use plastic carrier bags is set to double on May 21 from 5p to 10p across England as the government looks to dissuade people from using them.

The increase applies to all businesses and charging more will be mandated under the law, a departure from the previous rules which only mandated a levy for businesses with more than 150 people in their employ.

Read more: Chinese scientists discover plastic-eating bacteria

The 5p tax was added on bags was added in 2015 and their use has dropped by 95%, the government claims.

This new levy was first revealed in August 2020.

The government hopes this new change could see plastic bag use across small-to-medium-sized businesses drop by anywhere from 70% to 80%.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow told the BBC the 5p change had been a success owing to a significant drop in the average number of bags bought per person.

The average person in the UK now buys four plastic bags per year, down from 140 in 2014.

She added: "We know we must go further to protect our natural environment and oceans, which is why we are now extending this charge to all businesses.

"Over the next couple of weeks, I urge all retailers of all sizes to make sure they are ready for the changes, as we work together to build back greener and strengthen our world-leading action to combat the scourge of plastic waste."

A study from 2019 indicates as many as 59% of people in the UK support a total ban on plastic bags and consider it to be a primary way of tackling climate change and ocean waste.

Another study from the same year states that 82% of people surveyed are actively trying to cut down on plastic use.

Plastic is becoming one of the world's most pressing environmental threats.

Phasing out bags is one thing, but getting rid of existing plastic in the world's landfills and oceans is another.

A number of retailers have already pledged to stop selling plastic bags in accordance with this new deadline.

The Co-Op - a convenience store chain - will stop selling plastic "bags for life" and will now offer 100% recyclable alternatives. This stands to remove hundreds of tonnes of plastic each year.

Clothing outlet John Lewis said it will introduce new recyclable 50p bags on May 21. Customers also have the option of bringing in their own bags.

Other outlets, such as supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury's, have taken slightly different approaches.

Read more: AO turns unwanted fridges into healthy fresh air

Sainsbury's reported last week that they have been introducing fully-recyclable plastic bags for life which cost 20p to convince shoppers to reuse them.

Tesco increased the price of its bag for life to 20p  in September 2020 and phased out single-use bags in 2019.

Back to Homepage

Back to Chemicals & Biochemicals

Back to Politics & Economics