Plastic Bag Levy On Its Way

Plastic Bag Levy To Be Introduced Pending Assembly Approval

NEWCASTLE Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed the introduction of a 5p plastic bag levy from April 2013.

CouncilIor Clarke stated: "I welcome the news that the plastic bag levy will be introduced by 2013. Alliance has been campaigning for this for a number of years and it is long over due.

"Plastic bags are causing real problems for Down District Council as they are often a source of rubbish on our streets and across our environment. By introducing a levy on them, it should reduce the number of bags in Drumnakelly landfill site and thereby cut down on the amount of rubbish we send.

Cllr Patrick Clarke has welcomed the plastic bag levy

"This is just one part of the green agenda, but there is a lot more that the NI Executive could be doing to protect our environment, tackle climate change and make Northern Ireland more sustainable.”

NIIRTA Chief Executive Speaks Out On Plastic Bag Decision

Northern Ireland Independent Retail Traders Association Chief Executive Glyn Roberts also commented on the Assembly decision to put a levy on plastic bags.

He said, “We agree with the DOE Minister’s objective of reducing plastic bag usage and our members have led the way in educating customers and pioneering voluntary approaches to addressing this problem.

“However, we are concerned that this is a tax on hard pressed working families and will add to the burden of red tape particularly for small shops who will become tax collectors for this new scheme.

“It is unclear if it is intended to discourage plastic bag use or if it is a revenue raiser. It has to do one or the other – it can’t do both.

“We are concerned that this tax may be used to fund the Green New Deal. So, essentially, the public is being asked to buy plastic bags, thereby generating waste, in order to tackle waste. The Minister needs to clarify this issue.”
 
“The Minister also needs to highlight the projected cost of this new ‘enforcement centre’ based in Derry and how much the this Plastic Bag Tax will cost. “NIIRTA very much wants to work with Minister Attwood on this issue to ensure we achieve the objective of reducing plastic bag usage and will be seeking an urgent meeting with him.” Bin Collection

Attwood announces initial five pence levy on single use carrier bags

Environment Minister Alex Attwood announced (30 January) that a five pence levy on single use carrier bags will be introduced in April 2013.

This will increase to ten pence in April 2014. The Minister has lowered the levy in the first year enabling consumers to adjust to the concept. Further, there will be no charge on multi use carrier bags in April 2013 as the ten pence levy won't apply to these bags until April 2014.

This is the first time that a levy will be introduced on carrier bags in Northern Ireland.

MInister Attwood said: “There is no doubt that carrier bags are a scourge on the environment. Evidence from other countries demonstrates that a bag levy is a simple and effective means to reduce substantially the negative environmental impact of carrier bag consumption. A proposed ten pence levy on single use carrier bags and lower cost reusable carrier bags can bring about significant environmental improvement.

“However I recognise that consumers will need time to change their behaviour and adjust to bringing their own bags when they shop. I therefore propose to discount the charge to five pence in the first year, when the levy will only apply to single use carrier bags. This will ensure a phased approach to charging. I am committed to making Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest and this will certainly contribute to that goal.”

Administration of the scheme will be based in Derry, reflecting the Minister’s commitment to job dispersal in the draft Programme for Government.

He said: “With the creation of the new carrier bag levy I welcome the potential to now locate up to ten civil servant posts in the North West, through the establishment of a new collection and enforcement team to administer the levy and deliver a cost effective in-house IT system.”

He added: “I fully recognise that this new levy will be of great relevance to many consumers and businesses in Northern Ireland. People can get detailed information of arrangements for implementation on http://www.rethinkwasteni.org/carrierbaglevy. The website will be updated and extended, as the details of the carrier bag levy are developed.”

The introduction of the levy is subject to Assembly approval of the required legislation.