Huge Drop In Carrier Bag Useage

Figures from WRAP, the waste reduction agency, show that since 2006 the leading supermarkets and stores have reduced the number of carrier bags given to customers to 9.9bn from 13.4bn.

In addition, the quantity of plastic consumed has been cut by 40 per cent through the use of materials that have been recycled and by using a smaller amount of plastic per bag.

The leading retail outlets agreed a target of a 25% reduction in the effect of their bags on the environment by December 2008.

WRAP said cuts of this amount were only achieved because of the eager support of the shoppers.

CEO, Dr Liz Goodwin, said congratulations must go to shoppers for these figures, which show clearly that consumers are changing from using bags once to using them more often.

She also said that retailers should take credit for finding innovative ways of encouraging shoppers to use their bags repeatedly.

Dickey Felton from Keep Britain Tidy said litter still often comes from these carrier bags.

He commented that there are more plastic bags littering the streets over recent years so efforts by supermarket chains to cut their use are extremely appreciated, and hopefully litter from these bags will fall.

Wales plans to continue its efforts to end the use of free single-use bags in its stores.

Environment Minister, Jane Davidson of the Welsh Assembly, said that she enthusiastically welcomes the figures and gives congratulations to the stores involved, but recognises that plastic bags for one time use harm the environment.

She urged all the Welsh retailers to cut sole use plastic bag distribution and to cooperate to create new laws to make shoppers pay for bags.

The receipts will used in schemes for the environment.

Fifty percent of outlets are still giving out single use bags.

Retailers should have to opportunity to show what can be done without legislation but, if necessary, she will use the authority of her Department, she added