Charging for Single Use Carrier Bags: An Analysis of Public and Business Attitudes in Wales
Project Leader: Lori Frater
Project Support: Jeroen Dijskhoorn, Laura James, Emma Dean, Poppy Nichol, Alastair Smith & Radek Stech
Background
On the 1st October 2011, Wales becomes the first political jurisdiction in the UK to introduce a mandatory minimum charge on all single use carrier bags. The mandatory charge applies to all retail and shop outlets as well as to in store and online sales.
The charge has been introduced to help reduce the number of carrier bags generated each year, improve litter control by helping to clean our environment and protect wildlife from the potential hazards of discarded bags or fragments of bags. It is estimated that 500 billion plastic carrier bags are used worldwide each year.
In the UK alone, each year there are approximately 6.8 billion plastic bags handed out by retail shops (as of 2010). In 2009, an estimated 445 million carrier bags were used by shoppers from the major supermarkets in Wales alone. This is estimated to equate to 273 bags per household and excludes bags obtained for purchases other than groceries.
The Welsh Government believes that a charge of 5 pence is sufficient to alter people’s behaviour (without putting an unnecessary burden on shoppers) and reduce the quantity of single use carrier bags.
The Charge
The carrier bag charge covers bags composed of the following materials:
Plastic;
Paper;
Part-plastic;
Plant bases materials such as starch;
Recycled; and
Degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags.
Project
To gain an insight into the attitudes of both the public and businesses to this charge, a research project has been developed by researchers at the Centre. The project is split into two separate but inter-related phases.
Phase I is an analysis of the attitudes, awareness and acceptance of the charge by the public, whilst phase II is an analysis of the attitudes of retail companies, their level of understanding of the regulations and WG guidance, how they have introduced the charge (including staff training and record keeping) and how they will disseminate the proceeds from the charge.
Phase I: Attitudes, Awareness and Acceptance by the Public
A short survey of 600 members of the public was conducted in Cardiff in mid-September 2011. Survey respondents were asked a series of questions to elicit the level of their awareness, acceptance and attitude to the carrier bag charge.
The results of the survey can be obtained in this report.
Outputs
Report: Introduction of Single Use Carrier Bag Charge, Wales: Awareness of and Acceptance by Shoppers in Cardiff
Comment and Analysis: Carrier Bags: Friend or Foe?
Article (ERIC): Welsh Levy on Carrier Bags: Legislating to Change Behaviour
Phase II: Implementation of the charge by business
A survey of how businesses have implemented the charge, their attitudes towards the legislation and guidance underpinning the charge and how they will dispense with the funds raised will be undertaken in early October 2011.
