Plastic bag use falls by 147m following introduction of 5p charge

Carrier bag use fell by 147m last year, despite the charge on single use carrier bags only being introduced in the final 11 weeks of the year.

The figures, which come from seven major UK grocery retailers, show Scotland used 193.5m in the fourth quarter of 2013, versus 64.6 million during the same period in 2014.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “These astounding figures – a reduction of 147m – are yet another indication that the single use carrier bag charge has been a tremendous success, driving behaviour change to reduce litter across our beautiful country and also the amount of resources we, as a nation, consume.

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He added: “Previously statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every year – more per head of population than anywhere else in the UK. Scotland is serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.”

More than 60 shopping outlets have signed up to the Carrier Bag Commitment, agreeing to donate the net proceeds of the charge to good causes. The total raised has now exceeded £2m.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “It’s fantastic to learn that carrier bag usage in Scotland has dropped so spectacularly since the 5p charge was introduced.  As well as removing millions of bags from circulation, it’s also great that over two million pounds has been raised for good causes across the country.

“Before the charge Scotland consumed a staggering 800 million carrier bags every year, many of which ended up polluting our environment and threatening wildlife. The clear success of this initiative should encourage Ministers to press on with other bold ideas to help make Scotland a zero-waste nation.”

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “In the months since the carrier bag charge was introduced, we’ve seen a tremendous change in Scots shoppers’ habits, with many more people now bringing re-useable bags. I congratulate people for the drop in single-use bags in circulation, as these single-use items usually quickly end up either as litter or landfill.

“Retailers have also embraced the charge and I would encourage those who’ve not yet done so to sign up to our carrier bag commitment, to enable clear reporting and donation to good causes.”