Plastic bag charge to be extended to all shops in the UK

The UK government policy of charging 5p for plastic bags used at large retailers is expected to be extended to small shops in the UK.

This week Theresa May and environmental secretary Michael Gove are expected to unveil plans for the 5p charge to be applied to all shops in the UK in the attempt to tackle Britain’s “throwaway culture”.

According to Gove, when the charge was implemented in large supermarkets and retailers it resulted in a 90% reduction in usage of plastic bags and 9bn fewer bags being used. This measure could be followed by other initiatives to reduce plastics pollution.

Consultations will be held on removing an exemption that allows small retailers (less than 250 workers) to continue to give out free plastic bags. There could be an option for small shops to adopt the measure on voluntary basis.

Gove, who was appointed to the post last June, said that he was “haunted” by images of the damage the oceans suffer that were shown on the BBC documentary Blue Planet.

May and Gove have briefed ministers on Tuesday in the first meeting of the new cabinet, where Gove made sure to be pictured using his disposable coffee cup, about the speech that will mark the publication of a 25-year plan from the government to tackle plastic pollution.

Plastic bags aren’t the only ones at risk, the overuse of 2.5bn coffee cups a year has already been criticised by campaigners and the environmental audit committee has called for a 35p “latte levy” to be charged.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has also announced plans to investigate new taxes on single-use plastic products.

Downing Street said “the government had a clear belief in ‘conserving what is good, and standing against the profligate use of resources – whether it be public money or natural resources’,” according to a spokesman.

This charge on plastic bags followed plans, unveiled last weekend, to plant 50m trees in a “Northern Forest” stretching along the M62 between Liverpool and Hull over the next 25 years.