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Environment and Rural Development Committee

MSPs CALL FOR INTEGRATED APPROACH ON PLASTIC BAGS

CENV014/2006 | 27 September 2006

Charging a levy on plastic bags issued at checkouts – as proposed by Mike Pringle MSP in his Environmental Levy on Plastic Bags ( Scotland ) Bill – should only be used as part of a comprehensive package of waste prevention measures, concludes a report published today.

The Scottish Parliament’s Environment and Rural Development Committee has therefore urged the Executive to include ambitious measures to reduce plastic bag use in its forthcoming waste prevention strategy.

In the Committee’s view, a levy on plastic bags cannot achieve the clear environmental benefits that the Committee would like. Therefore, it has recommended that the Parliament should not agree to the general principles of the Bill.

Committee Convener, Sarah Boyack MSP, said:

“Our Committee very much welcomes the debate about environmental issues, resource use and changing individual behaviour that has been provoked by this Bill.

“The proposal seems very simple, but we found that the possible impacts of the levy are actually very complex on a whole range of issues. Implementing one measure in isolation doesn’t give the flexibility to make sure that the environment benefits.

“We agreed unanimously that the Parliament should not agree to the general principals of the Bill.”

Deputy Convener, Eleanor Scott MSP, added:

“We recognise that the idea of a levy does have merits. Evidence suggests that it could change consumer behaviour overnight and reduce plastic bag use by approximately 90%.

“That is why we welcomed the Minister's development of a waste minimisation strategy and asked him to consider measures on plastic bags, including exploration of the option of a levy. We are disappointed that he has not, to date, responded more positively and we urge the Executive to take this on.

“Being part of an integrated strategy offers the best chance for measures to succeed and produce real net environmental improvements. ”  

BACKGROUND NOTES

The Environmental Levy on Plastic Bags ( Scotland ) Bill was introduced as a Members' Bill by Mike Pringle MSP on 17 June 2005 . Copies of the Bill can be accessed on our website at

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/environment/index.htm

The Bill proposes that retailers and other businesses must charge customers a levy (currently proposed to be 10p) for each plastic bag provided. The levy is to be collected by local authorities and spent on environmental projects. The Bill aims to raise awareness of environmental issues, encourage the re-use and recycling of plastic bags and reduce plastic bag litter and the harm it causes to the environment and to animals.

The Committee published a detailed report in December 2005 and asked for further information from Mike Pringle and the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie. The Committee has now considered the further evidence and published a final report and recommendation to the Parliament. Both reports are available on the Committee’s web-page.

The Scottish Executive has not taken a position on the Bill. During the scrutiny of this Bill, the Minister for Environment and Rural Development launched a consultation on a waste minimisation strategy. This strategy is expected to be finalised shortly and is expected to cover a wide range of issues including measures to affect retailers, consumers, businesses, etc.  The Committee called for such a strategy in its 2003 inquiry into the national waste plan.  

For further information, the media contact is :

Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265 RNID TypeTalk Calls welcome
E-mail: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

Katherine Wright: 0131 348 5221
Email: ERDC@scottish.parliament.uk