Plastic bag bill promises to clean up Scotland
his private bill to place a levy on plastic bags in Scotland will
benefit retailers, consumers and the environment. Anthony
Fletcher reports.
The conflicting trends of consumer convenience and growing environmental awareness have put the plastic bag at the centre of a global debate. Somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, and of those, millions end up in the litter stream outside of landfills.
Some countries have started to take action. Bangladesh for example banned polythene bags after it was found that they were blocking drainage systems and contributing to floods, while Ireland's strategy of putting a 15-cent tax on plastic bags has resulted in a 95 per cent reduction in their use.
It is Mike Pringle MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament)'s belief that Scotland should adopt a similar strategy as the Irish. He believes that his private bill, which was introduced last year and achieved more responses than any other private bill during its consultation stage, has the potential to significantly cut down on packaging waste, and even help companies save money.
"This is obviously a big issue and the vast majority are in favour," he told FoodProductionDaily.com. "We're now in the process of writing a memorandum for the bill, and hope to produce the actual bill by Easter next year."
However, Pringle knows that while support for his bill is strong, he must be able to convince the Scottish Executive to support it. At present they are waiting for evidence to support the claim that placing a levy on plastic bags will benefit retailers, consumers and the environment.
"There are two major issues that need to be addressed," he said. "First, how the money will be collected. I propose to raise a levy, and collect it through 32 local authorities.
"Some of these authorities might be concerned that this will cost them, but I think we will be able to convince them by showing them how much money is likely to be raised."
The second major issue is convincing the Scottish environment minister that a levy on plastic bags will not simply result in a switch to paper bags instead.
"I think there will be very little movement from plastic to paper," said Pringle. Indeed, in Ireland where a similar levy scheme was introduced in 2002, it appears that consumers have become quickly accustomed to carrying around a reusable bag.
"In any case, all paper bags can be recycled," said Pringle. "Plastic, even biodegradable plastic, can take forever to break down."
Most opposition to the Scottish scheme comes from manufacturers and importers of plastic bags. Well over 90 per cent of plastic bags are manufactured in the Far East and shipped over by the container load, and a few companies make their living importing and distributing the plastic bags.
However, Pringle insists that some fears over the future of this sector are unfounded, although he readily accepts that companies will need to diversify. He knows of one firm in Ireland, which used to import plastic but was forced to diversify into paper packaging following the introduction of the levy, that has found its new line of business just as profitable.
"If you go to Ireland and talk to people, everyone is supportive; except perhaps Tesco, which got stuck with a huge stock of plastic bags," he said. "Superquinn, which is not a big retailer, estimates that it has saved itself £1 million a year due to a lack of demand for plastic bags."
Pringle's bill still has to go through a long and torturous process before it becomes law. It needs to be voted for by the Scottish Parliament before it enters the third and final amendment stage, and should, he hopes, become law some time between Easter and Autumn 2006.
Pringle remains confident. "I think it is likely that we will get a majority," he said.
