AM WARNS SUPERMARKETS OVER PLASTIC BAG GIVEAWAYS

LOCAL Supermarkets need to get their act together over the ‘mountains of carrier bags’ they give away every week - or face a Government imposed levy, local Labour AM Gwenda Thomas warned today.

Gwenda was responding to the news that the UK Government has announced that it will use powers to put a levy on single use carrier bags if retailers don’t take enough action themselves by the end of the year.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

"The mountains of plastic bags which our local supermarkets are giving away each week are causing enormous harm in our communities.

"I am very pleased to see the Government making it clear that retailers have until the end of the year to do more, or face legislation to impose charges on these bags from early next year."

"Many of us only use these bags for a few minutes to carry our shopping home, but they can damage our environment for years to come. Discarded plastic bags are a real blight in many communities and they can take thousands of years to break down, often on landfill tips.

Gwenda added:

"The Assembly Government has already signed up to a voluntary code with supermarkets aimed at reducing the amount of single use carrier bags used in Wales, but this is just the start. The Assembly is currently asking for new powers over environmental protection and waste management, which would also make an impact in this area.

"At the same time, we all have a responsibility to cut down on the number of carrier bags we use when we are shopping. Re-usable bags are better for the environment and they could soon be better for our pockets as well."