Mandatory charges or levies on single-use carrier bags
#00090
Require retailers to charge a small mandatory fee per single-use carrier bag at checkout. Even a small charge cuts bag use and bag litter by around 80%, nudging shoppers toward reusables — a low-cost policy with fast, measurable results.
United Kingdom
SuccessUK governments (Wales 2011, NI 2013, Scotland 2014, England 2015)· since 2011· National
The UK introduced a mandatory charge on single-use carrier bags, rolled out across the four nations (Wales 2011, Northern Ireland 2013, Scotland 2014, England 2015). The Marine Conservation Society's Beachwatch voluntee…
Plastic bags on beaches~5 per 100 m (2014)~1 per 100 mbags per 100 m
Beach bag litter over the decade~-80%
2 sources
United Kingdom
SuccessUK governments (Wales 2011, NI 2013, Scotland 2014, England 2015)· since 2011· National
The UK introduced a mandatory single-use carrier-bag charge progressively — Wales (2011), Northern Ireland (2013), Scotland (2014) and England (2015). The MCS Beachwatch citizen-science beach survey recorded a steep, su…
Plastic bags on beaches (per 100 m)~5 bags per 100 m in 2014~1 bag per 100 mbags per 100 m
Beach bag-litter reduction over a decade~80%%
2 sources