Chancellor of the Exchequer Alastair Darling announced in his 2008 Budget that he is ready to launch plastics bag taxation based on environmental considerations. He commented: "Given the damage that single-use carrier bags inflict on the environment, we want to be able to take action. We will introduce legislation to impose a charge on these if we have not seen sufficient progress on a voluntary basis.
"Legislation would come into force in 2009 and, based on other countries' experience, it could lead to a 90 per cent reduction in use, with around 12 billion fewer plastics bags in circulation. The money raised should go to environmental charities."
His remarks follow Marks & Spencer's pledge to charge its food customers 5p for each plastics bag. However, several supermarkets have already stated that they will not be introducing a plastics bag charge. An Asda spokesman claimed his chain was "against putting a levy on plastics bags" and that "in the current climate of people tightening their belts - we think this is not the best way to go at the present time".
Instead, the supermarket giant will be trying to reduce the amount of free carrier bags by introducing a 'bag on request initiative' across all it stores. All carrier bags will be removed from the end of its checkouts and customers will have to request a bag from beneath the cashier's desk.
The chancellor also announced other environmental measure that will affect the packaging industry, coming into effect on 1 April. Until 2010-11, the landfill tax will increase by £8 per tonne each year and the lower rate applying to inactive waste will rise from £2 to £2.50 per tonne. It will remain at this level until 2009-10. In addition, the value of the Landfill Communities Fund will be increased by £5M to £370M for 2008-09.
