Rubbish

Why is there not a tax on plastic bags in the UK?

Ireland introduced such a scheme in 2002 and they have seen a significant drop in the numbers used and interestingly, despite their newly acquired importance, a large increase in the numbers sent for recycling.

Tesco in the UK almost singly handedly destroyed the momentum for a similar law here in the UK after introducing its ‘green points’ scheme for reusing plastic bags. The Scottish executive was considering bringing the law into Scotland but has unfortunately since stalled. The Scottish Parliament can be of great use when it tries out semi-controversial ideas like this one since if they can prove a policies effectiveness in Scotland there is little reason it should not be introduced in the rest of Britain either (i.e. the smoking ban which has been in full operation for more than a year now in Scotland).

I’m not suggesting a plastic bag tax will save the earth, because it simply won’t do that, however I am still caught up in this idea that the public are hugely affected by their immediate environmental factors (like in the tipping point theory). I think this plastic bag tax could be a tipping point in boosting recycling throughout the UK, in all areas, not just plastic bags. The minute people are forced to start thinking about the need to re-use plastic bags on a daily basis then I think they will soon extend that thinking to other items, plastic bottles, glass, paper etc.

I’m not a fan of the nanny state but I don’t think this simple and subtle change represents to great an intrusion on people’s lives. Indeed, by retaining consumer choice I believe this law would have a far more positive net effect on ‘green’ habits that an outright ban would have.

Of course, I could be wrong – but there is little to lose in giving it a go.