Northern Ireland introduces shopping bag tax
31 January 2012 10:03
A 5p tax on plastic, single-use carrier bags will be introduced in Northern Ireland next year.
The levy will double in 2014, when a 10p charge on the more durable multi-use shopping bags will also be brought in, according to Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood.
Northern Ireland will become the second UK region to implement the environmental tax, following Wales' lead last year. A similar levy is also in effect in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Attwood said he was setting the 5p rate in the first year to allow customers time to adjust to the concept.
"There is no doubt that carrier bags are a scourge on the environment," said the SDLP minister. Evidence from other countries demonstrates that a bag levy is a simple and effective means to reduce substantially the negative environmental impact of carrier bag consumption.
Mr Attwood needs the Northern Ireland Assembly to approve the proposals before they become law. If the scheme proceeds as planned the 5p tax will come into effect in April 2013.
However, a body representing small retailers expressed concern about the move.
Glyn Roberts of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) said: "We agree with the DOE Minister's objective of reducing plastic bag usage and our members have led the way in educating customers and pioneering voluntary approaches to addressing this problem. However, we are concerned that this is a tax on hard-pressed working families and will add to the burden of red tape, particularly for small shops, who will become tax collectors for this new scheme. It's unclear if it is intended to discourage plastic bag use or if it is a revenue raiser. It has to do one or the other - it can't do both.
"We are concerned that this tax may be used to fund the Green New Deal.
"So, essentially, the public is being asked to buy plastic bags, thereby generating waste, in order to tackle waste."
Mr Roberts said the minister needed to provide clarity on his intentions.
He added: "NIIRTA very much wants to work with Minister Attwood on this issue to ensure we achieve the objective of reducing plastic bag usage and will be seeking an urgent meeting with him."
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