Nearly two-thirds of people support the 5p charge for plastic bags that starts next Monday in England, according to a poll.
The charge for single-use bags sees England catching up with the rest of the UK, with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all having reported dramatic falls in consumption after similar schemes were introduced.
Despite the government deciding to exempt shops with fewer than 250 employees from having to charge shoppers 5p per bag, the Association of Convenience Stores has said 16% of corner shops, newsagents and village stores will implement it regardless.
Half of English respondents support smaller shops enacting the charge with 30% against it, the ICM polling for the Break the Bag Habit coalition found. Support for the general principle of the 5p charge to tackle waste was higher, at 62% in favour versus 25% against.
Samantha Harding, the spokeswoman for the coalition, which includes Keep Britain Tidy, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and other charities, said: “This poll shows that the appetite is there to support a more comprehensive scheme, and tackle more of the bag litter that blights our countryside, rivers, towns and seas.”
About 7.6bn plastic bags were given out in the UK last year, or 140 bags per person, and the number has risen for five years running. The charge is expected to raise around £73m a year for good causes, with retailers choosing where the money goes. Parks and woodland walks are among the schemes that Tesco has said it will fund with the proceeds.
Online grocery delivery companies will also be required to take part in the scheme, with companies charging 5p per bag delivered. Ocado said it would pay customers 5p back per bag they returned to its delivery drivers for recycling.
