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Plastic bag charge: 5p levy could be extended in England | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The 5p charge for plastic bags in large shops in England could be extended to cover nearly all retailers, as part of government plans for the environment. | |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove told a meeting of the cabinet that he wanted to tackle our "throwaway culture". | Environment Secretary Michael Gove told a meeting of the cabinet that he wanted to tackle our "throwaway culture". |
Shops with fewer than 250 employees are currently exempt from the charge, which since being introduced in England in October 2015 has cut plastic use. | Shops with fewer than 250 employees are currently exempt from the charge, which since being introduced in England in October 2015 has cut plastic use. |
The government is set to unveil its 25-year environment plan on Thursday. | |
Briefing the cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Gove said the government was "determined to tackle the throwaway culture which plastics encapsulate". | Briefing the cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Gove said the government was "determined to tackle the throwaway culture which plastics encapsulate". |
The 5p charge on single-use plastic bags in England has contributed to a reduction of nearly 90% in their use, the government said. | The 5p charge on single-use plastic bags in England has contributed to a reduction of nearly 90% in their use, the government said. |
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2011, 2014 and 2013 respectively and have also seen significant drops in usage. | Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2011, 2014 and 2013 respectively and have also seen significant drops in usage. |
The charge applies to every new plastic bag used at large stores in England - but only shops or chains with 250 or more full-time employees. | The charge applies to every new plastic bag used at large stores in England - but only shops or chains with 250 or more full-time employees. |
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said there would be a consultation on extending the 5p charge in England. | |
Chris Noice from the Association of Convenience Stores welcomed the government's plans as being "good for the environment and good for the retailers taking part". | |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "approval for carrier bag charging is now very high" among the association's 33,500 members, and more than a third of the shops it represents have already adopted the idea voluntarily. | |
He said: "There was a bit of an adjustment period when the initial legislation came in in England. But everyone is pretty comfortable with it now." | |
Plastic bags at airport shops or on board trains, planes or ships are currently not included, and neither are paper bags. | |
Northern Forest | |
More broadly, Prime Minister Theresa May said the government would take a stand against the "profligate" use of natural resources with its 25-year plan. | More broadly, Prime Minister Theresa May said the government would take a stand against the "profligate" use of natural resources with its 25-year plan. |
Last week, she said 50 million trees would be planted in a "Northern Forest" stretching along the M62 corridor between Liverpool and Hull over the coming 25 years, to boost natural habitats and give people access to more woodland. | Last week, she said 50 million trees would be planted in a "Northern Forest" stretching along the M62 corridor between Liverpool and Hull over the coming 25 years, to boost natural habitats and give people access to more woodland. |
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