This Is Guernsey

By Simon Tostevin

BANNING the use of plastic bags is not a practical or viable option in the near future, according to two of the island’s largest retailers.

Environment minister David De Lisle said in yesterday’s Guernsey Press that if shops did not take the initiative within the next year, he would look to take a proposal for a ban to the States.

But while Creasey’s managing director Tony Creasey and Channel Islands Co-operative Society chief executive Jim Hopley both support the drive to reduce plastic bag use, both are worried about the consequences of rushing through a ban.

‘If you banned carrier bags right now, there would be riots in the street because people haven’t got the alternative bags to replace them,’ said Mr Hopley.

‘We all want to see the use of carrier bags reduced, but we’ve already been working on this issue with other retailers and the Guernsey Climate Action Network for the past 12-18 months.

‘Unless everybody is on board and prepared to do it, then it’s very difficult for one retailer to do anything with carrier bags because people would talk with their feet and stop shopping there.

‘We have to first talk about what mechanisms and what timescales we are going to use before imposing a total ban.’

Mr Creasey said that the issue of carrier bags was already a regular item at retail sub-committee meetings and that the Chamber of Commerce was due to meet Public Services just before Easter.

‘We are trying not to be as dramatic as having an outright ban. We are hoping, by persuasion and education, that plastic bag usage will decline.

‘We have always said it would take time and I believe the number of people you see using alternative bags is already rapidly growing. I think our softly softly approach is working, but for some people it’s not working fast enough.’

He said that for the purchasing of some items it would not always be practical for people to carry an alternative bag, whether that be popping out at lunch for a sandwich, clothes shopping or in some areas of food retail such as when a customer has bought fish or meat.

‘I don’t think people have thought about all the consequences. To ban them altogether would be a step too far. It would be a dramatic measure that would cause some serious difficulties.

‘It’s very much an ongoing debate on how to promote the further reduction in usage without the ultimate step of an outright ban.’

Mr Hopley added that he would be happy to put a charge on every plastic bag used and see the revenue go towards an environmental initiative.

‘I don’t think it could be just 1p a bag. It would have to be high enough so it was a deterrent.’

But he was keen to see all the island’s retailers, including the High Street shops and not just those in the food sector, get together to thrash out a deal.

Mr Hopley said the Co-op had reduced its plastic bag use across the Channel Islands by nearly a quarter.