Minister’s plan on plastic bag tax would be a missed opportunity

Friends of the Earth today called Minister of the Environment's announcement of a planned 4c increase in the plastic bag tax a "missed opportunity".

Commenting, Friends of the Earth director, Oisín Coghlan said:
"We welcome Minister Roche's acceptance that a rise in the plastic bag tax is needed to ensure it continues to keep bag use down. But small gradual increases are not the way to do it. We need to restore the original shock value that made people think twice about using plastic bags. The best way to do that is to double the tax to 30c."

Announcing the plan yesterday the Minister said he is willing to consider a second rise in the levy to bring it above 20c but Friends of the Earth believes strongly that a one-off doubling of the tax would be much more effective in reminding retailers and shoppers of the purpose and success of the tax.

"Four years ago nobody wanted to pay 15c for a plastic bag and they changed their behaviour accordingly. Now we've got used to it bad habits are creeping back in. A 4c increase each year wouldn't change that - people would take it in their stride. A big jump in the tax every four or five years if bag use is increasing makes much more sense," Mr Coghlan added.

Friends of the Earth first called for a doubling of the tax on the fourth anniversary of its introduction back in March. Analysis of the revenue figures from the levy showed that plastic bag use had risen by a third since the lowpoint in 2003. The Minister initially responded that he had no plans to adjust the levy but has now changed his position, telling the media that preparations are under way to raise the levy by 4c by way of departmental regulation. Any rise greater that 4c would require an amendment to the 2001 Waste Management Act. Friends of the Earth believes it is worth the additional effort now to ensure effectiveness and save having to revisit the issue in the near future.