AN ENVIRONMENTAL group’s call for a tax on plastic bags is facing opposition. Recycling officer Dr Keith Russell said that although Public Services was aware of the charge in Ireland introduced in 2002 - which today would equate to about 15p per carrier bag - and of those proposed by 33 London boroughs and also by Marks & Spencer in the south-west from February, it was unlikely the same would happen here.
‘Public Services is currently conducting a survey of plastic carrier bag use and of the sale of reusable alternatives - plastic and cotton - by the main island retailers as part of the Guernsey Community Bag Partnership,’ said Dr Russell.
‘This is a voluntary survey sent out through the Chamber of Commerce to its retail members and the data will be used in future discussions in the partnership but it is unlikely the retailers will charge for bags,’ he said.
Following meetings with retailers, Rosemary Dorey, member of environmental group the Guernsey Climate Action Network, called for the States to pass legislation regarding the use of plastic bags.
‘There are a host of reasons why we need to stop the use of carrier bags,’ she said. ‘It’s imperative that we get less of them put into landfill at Mont Cuet and blowing around the island.
‘We’re a community dependent on the sea - and the seas are being besieged by plastics which can kill sea animals and break down, getting into the food chain.
‘We need to be vigilant because we’re on an island with finite and diminishing landfill space. Plastic bags are things we can do without.’
She said that in fairness to the retailers, it would be better for legislation to be passed, as has been done elsewhere.
But Chamber of Commerce director Barry Cash was confident schemes such as Bag for Life and the Co-op’s penny-back scheme were working and that it was the little things that had changed people’s attitudes.
He said legislation would cost too much for too little return.
‘There are better ways of educating people,’ he said.
Tony Creasey, who runs the local Marks & Spencer franchise, did not think it would be viable for retailers to go down the route of charging for plastic bags as there were many different styles of shop in the island.
‘If you pop on foot to the corner shop, you’ll need a bag for four or five items,’ he said.
‘But if you drive to the supermarket, then it’s more likely you will take carrier bags with you.’
Mr Creasey added that motivating and encouraging people to be vigilant with their shopping habits were more important than imposing a carrier bag levy.
* Further information about efforts to minimise the use of plastic bags in Guernsey can be found on the internet with Facebook group Let’s get Guernsey plastic bag-free.
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