England final UK nation to plan for plastic bag levy
Government is to introduce a five pence mandatory charge for plastic bag use in Autumn 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced.
He revealed the decision at the Liberal Democrat annual party conference in Brighton on Saturday (14 September).
Speaking to delegates, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “Plastic carrier bags blight our towns and countryside. They take hundreds of years to degrade and can kill animals.
This is not a new problem. We’ve waited too long for action. That’s why I am drawing a line under the issue now. The charge will be implemented sensibly – small businesses will be exempt.”
The government is to encourage businesses to voluntarily donate the proceeds from the levy to charity. Businesses with fewer than 250 employees will be exempt from the charge.
Moreover, ministers are seeking to incentivise the use of biodegradable bags, with those meeting ‘a new high standard for these products’ also being exempt.
