Sales of supermarket plastic bags have plummeted 90% since the 5p tax came in, new figures reveal.
As shoppers continue to shun the throwaway carriers, 490 million fewer have been sold by major grocery chains.
Data from the nation’s seven biggest supermarkets - Asda, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, the Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose - show in 2018-19, 549 million single use carrier bags were snapped up compared with 1.04 billion in the previous 12 months.
On average, just ten bags a year are bought per person from leading grocers in England compared with 140 in 2014, before the charge was introduced in October 2015.
Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show Tesco shoppers topped the “ditch the plastic bag” league slashing the use of carriers by 211 million, followed by Morrisons with a reduction of 118 million bags.
In the last 12 months, Asda saw a decrease of 86.1 million bags, Marks & Spencer was down by 36.7 million, the Co-op by 25.1 million, Waitrose by 12.4 million (20%) and Sainsbury’s “had a more modest reduction of around half a million bags”, Defra said.
The 5p levy raised £22.9 million for charity with around 3.6p from each bag sold going to good causes.
Before the 2015 charge, supermarkets in England were dishing out 7.6 billion free single use bags a year but growing concerns about their impact on the environment led to the levy to help reduce litter, protect wildlife and cut back on plastic waste.
New Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: “Our comprehensive action to slash plastic waste and leave our environment in a better state continues to deliver results, with our 5p charge reducing plastic bag sales by 90% in the big supermarkets.
“No one wants to see the devastating impact plastic waste is having on our precious wildlife. Today’s figures are a powerful demonstration that we are collectively calling time on being a throwaway society.”
Yesterday the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) called on the Government to go a step further and bring in a paper bag tax too.
Maddy Haughton-Boakes, CPRE litter campaigner said: “The continued reduction in plastic bag use in our supermarkets is yet more evidence of the huge impact that a small financial incentive can have.
“There is also absolutely no reason why the charge shouldn’t be applied to all bags, paper as well as plastic, to bring an end to the use of these single use items altogether.
“Another small financial incentive the Government must hurry up and introduce is a deposit return system for every single drinks can, bottle carton and pouch of all shapes, sizes and materials.
“By placing a small deposit on all drinks containers, we will boost recycling rates to over 90%, create a circular economy for the tens of billions consumed each year, and bring an end to the environmental damage they cause.”
