Plastic Bag Tax - My Irish Experience

[sunny-dave]

I understand that there is now a proposal to introduce this in the UK - and there was some debate on here whilst I was away.

Just to give a view of how Ireland has changed since I last was there for a longish holiday some years ago. There is now virtually no plastic bag litter anywhere in the countryside - the hedgerows used to be festooned with bags - none at all now.

The Irish Bag Levy is €0.22 per bag (about 20p) and it concentrates the mind wonderfully after the first time you get hit with it - per capita usage of bags has dropped from a staggering 328 per person per year to around 20 pppy.

It also seems that the elimination of plastic bag litter has had a very significant knock-on effect in general tidiness and absence of litter of all types. Ireland has gone (at least in the small towns and rural areas where I was) from a position (perhaps 10 or so years ago) of being a much scruffier country than England, to putting just about any country you could name to shame.

Everywhere is tidy and 'kempt' (is that a word?) and the overall image is one of pride in your country. The litter I saw on my trip home from Luton to Warwickshire was seriously horrible (and very depressing) by comparison.

If we can replicate the Irish experience then I'll be very much in favour - my only current worry is that I think the proposed initial levy of 5p is hopelessly inadequate - much too low to work properly.

[B00]

I agree (welcome home btw), i'd be happier if it was 20p per bag here in the UK too.

[friedgreentomato]

Dave it starts off at 5 and then will rise just like we are in Northern Ireland its - going up to 10p next year

[murraymints]

I never use them..have my own canvas type bags that live in the car.

[anneasquith]

our co=op charges 2p for a very flimsy bag, but I don't mind, I recycle them,

[B00]

We don't at ours yet Anne, though I wish we did.

The amount of people that ask for a bag when they're only buying a paper or a packet of fags for example is unreal.

[sunny-dave]

Hmmm - I see that now FGT - but I tend to think that a 'big hit' at the point where it is introduced will have more effect than a series of smaller increases that people just get used to?

Or is the purpose actually more about raising money (even if for charity) than about stopping the use of the bags?

Slightly Cynical Dave

[friedgreentomato]

Well the money raise here does not go to charity as far as I know! Believe me enough people complain about 5p that they soon remember their bags

[Caribeing]

That is why Ireland is green! Less plastic bags hanging from trees. I really think they should ban pastic bags, make people more responsible.

[sunny-dave]

At €0.22 a pop it was amazing how much I could carry/juggle without a bag :)

[friedgreentomato]

actually caribeing its green because of the bleedin rain!!

[Caribeing]

Hi friedgreentomat we have had great weather lately no rain!

[netibiza]

We pay 6cents per bag, not a lot, but makes one take recyclable bags to the shops.

[netibiza]

..but in the fruit and veg aisle there are 100's of clear plastic bags for free!!!

[gness]

FGT....I honestly only had one showery day in well over two weeks....thought I'd never find an excuse to sit in a bar.....the sun shone and the evening entertainment went outdoors.
We discussed this I know Dave and I recall when every blasted tree had bags hanging from the branches as we drove out of Dublin...and you are right... it has had a knock on effect. Can't think of anywhere else I have been that has been so clean and tidy....it was a pleasure to walk around the towns and villages.
I know people have complained about having to buy bin bags instead of reusing carrier bags but bin bags will be full and not like the unfilled, unrecycled carrier bags from land fill sites...blowing in the wind.
25p a bag would be good......

[friedgreentomato]

we have had more than that in the north!

[gness]

I visit Ireland often and have never had a holiday ruined by rain...usually I'm trawling for wells because our water supply dries....last November the daughter and I were on the beach....this time I had to buy Factor 50....
Now...how much will you all pay me to visit the North next summer?..;-)