Where Does The Money Go The

[emmie]

5p levy stuck on plastic bags. To good causes apparently?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42638548

[emmie]

The 5p charge for plastic bags in England could be extended to cover shops and chains with 250 or fewer employees, under government plans.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the 5p charge already applies to all businesses, regardless of size.

[Islay]

You've answered your own question emmie.

[emmie]

in a manner of speaking, but do you believe it, because i honestly don't. If small retailers start charging for the bags then where do they put this money..

[Islay]

I'm note sure but as it is a government incentive then it will have to be recorded for audit purposes - so there will be a record - maybe on their audited books?

[albaqwerty]

if I see the owner of my local corner shop over the weekend Em, I'll ask him what impact it's had on his book-keeping/accounts side of things - it's possible this charge has upped the amount he pays his accountant.

[emmie]

maybe, but isn't it just another tax on people. Personally i would put much more per bag, but that's because we are so wasteful. And i hate to see all this plastic end up in landfill and the oceans

[hc4361]

Hmmm

"The measure is primarily an environmental one but the Treasury is estimated to gain a predicted income of £19m a year from the VAT charge."

"The rest of the money goes back to the retailer but many are expected to donate the money to charity."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/plastic-bag-charge-where-does-the-5p-go-a6679811.html

So the retailer can keep some or all of the proceeds.

[emmie]

hc
that shouldn't be right surely?

[hc4361]

This is much more recent:

"In total, £66m was donated to good causes in the year 2016-17.

This works out at 4p for every single-use bag sold"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42638548

[emmie]

what happens to the other 1p in wonder?

[hc4361]

Do you clean your reusable bags regularly? You should do, they can transfer all sorts of nasty bugs, whether they are plastic, nylon, canvas.
Morrison's are very good inasmuch as they follow the letter of the law exactly - fish, meat and poultry are put in to free single use carrier bags automatically. I don't know any other supermarket that does that

[hc4361]

emmie - VAT, cost of the bag, cost of accounting and auditing, cost of transporting the bag, etc

[hc4361]

For every 20 5p bags sold the government gets 20p. (I think)

[gulliver1]

how much does it cost the retailer to buy the bags? .

[fender62]

why cant they be made biodegradable

[Cloverjo]

Given that small retailers already buy their carrier bags and prices of goods are set in order to cover the cost, it wouldn't be difficult to work out how many they get through in a year, and give to charity 5p for each one.

[fender62]

something i did not know, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/23/biodegradable-plastic-false-solution-for-ocean-waste-problem