Big fall in plastic bag use but MSPs say we can handle more

Published on Tuesday 21 July 2009 09:46

THE Scottish Government was criticised today for failing to capitalise on the success of a campaign to cut plastic bag use by setting new targets.

Environment Minister Richard Lochhead hailed the 49.4 per cent fall in the number of single-use bags handed out by major supermarkets in Scotland, almost meeting the government's target of a 50 per cent cut on 2006 levels.

And he said he wanted to cut bag numbers further.

But opposition MSPs said he should have set a new reduction target to keep up the pressure for stores to stop handing out so many of the bags.

Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle said: "If they are not setting a further target, retailers will sit back and think they have done enough. The only way to keep up the momentum is to put down new targets." The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) produced figures showing major supermarkets including Asda, ScotMid and Tesco gave out 39 million fewer bags in May this year compared with May 2006.

Mr Pringle – who unsuccessfully promoted a Member's Bill to introduce a 10p levy on plastic bags – pointed out that the new Climate Change Bill included a power for ministers to impose a charge on carrier bags.

He said: "Richard Lochhead should say to the supermarkets in Scotland 'There is a new target – 75 per cent and I want you to reach that by the next election in 2011 or if the SNP gets back into government we will impose a charge'. Scotland could have led the world if parliament had grasped the nettle in this and agreed to a levy."

Lothians Green MSP Robin Harper said both supermarkets and the public should be congratulated on the near-50 per cent reduction in bag use.

But he added: "Clearly the 50 per cent was easy peasy. Let's be a bit more challenging. Let's have another 25 per cent in the next year."

Sam Adderley, waste prevention project officer at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said he hoped new targets on plastic bag reduction might emerge from the recommendations of the government's consultation on the National Waste Management Plan. But he added: "Scotland could reduce its plastic bag usage by 90 per cent with the introduction of some sort of levy."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The voluntary agreement has shown good progress, with shoppers participating without the risk of a charge, and supermarkets will continue to work with customers on this. The Scottish Government plan to review the voluntary agreement next year."