Plastic bag sales fall by 90 percent in England as public attitude shifts

Sales of plastic carrier bags in England's largest supermarkets have fallen by 90 percent since a 5 pence (6 cents) charge was introduced in 2015.

The average person in England now buys just 10 bags per year from supermarkets compared with 140 in 2014, according to new government figures. It follows huge falls in plastic bag use in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which all introduced the levy sooner.

The country's plastic bag fee came into effect in England in October 2015, with all supermarkets and large stores required to charge for every single-use plastic carrier bag they handed out.

Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said the measure "continues to deliver results".

Campaigners against plastic also welcomed the impact of the charge, credited with a dramatic change in consumer behavior.

"No one wants to see the devastating impact plastic waste is having on our precious wildlife. Today's figures are a powerful demonstration that we are collectively calling time on being a throwaway society," Villiers said.

The charge was introduced in England to help reduce litter, protect wildlife and influence consumer behavior after the number of carrier bags given out by the seven major supermarkets rose by 200 million in 2014. At the time, consumers were using more than 7.6 billion bags a year, amounting to 61,000 tons of plastic.

Julian Kirby of Friends of the Earth said: "What an amazing difference good legislation makes. Five pence really is a small price to pay to see this massive reduction in plastic bags that used to blight the countryside and clog up waterways, with horrific resultant damage to marine life."

Public attitudes toward plastic have transformed since the introduction of the bag levy. Broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough and his television series Blue Planet II are widely credited with helping to shift public attitudes and behaviors.

In recent months, hundreds of companies have made pledges to cut back the amount of plastic and packaging they use.

Supermarket giant Asda recently vowed to ditch plastic carrier bags for online shopping, while Boots announced in June that it will get rid of them completely in favor of paper bags.

The government announced a range of measures to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste in its resources and waste strategy, which include a ban on microbeads and a forthcoming ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds from April 2020. It also recently consulted on the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, something the Scottish government has already committed to.

Maddy Haughton-Boakes of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: "The continued reduction in plastic bag use in our supermarkets is yet more evidence of the huge impact that a small financial incentive can have. Theresa Villiers must now build on this success by rolling it out to all small shops. There is absolutely no reason the charge shouldn't be applied to all bags, paper as well as plastic, to bring an end to the use of these single-use items altogether".