Alliance wants pledge on plastic bag levy from future Environment Minister

3.35.32pm GMT Fri 27th Apr 2007

Alliance Environment Spokesperson Cllr Stewart Dickson

Alliance Environment Spokesperson Cllr Stewart Dickson has stated that the future Environment Minister Arlene Foster should pledge to introduce a levy on plastic bags, when she takes office on 8 May. He also praised Sainsbury's 'free bag for life' initiative which takes place today, but said that it is no substitute for introducing plastic bag levy.

The Carrickfergus Councillor said: "I wish to secure a pledge from Arlene Foster that she will implement this levy when she becomes Environment Minister. Today's initiative at Sainsbury's is a positive one; however, the bag for life scheme is no substitute for tackling the real problem and introducing a levy.

"For years, Alliance has been campaigning for the introduction of a plastic bag charge in Northern Ireland.

"The imposition of a levy would ensure that less plastic bags are used, therefore cutting down the level of harmful; emissions used in their production.

"At the moment many households have large quantities of used plastic bags gained from supermarket shopping trips and people should re-use them.

"The emissions issues is only one aspect that the levy would reduce; it would also decrease littering because people would be less willing to discard their used plastic bags.

"The introduction of a levy would also have another massive benefit - it would raise much-needed cash for local environmental projects.

"The Republic of Ireland's plastic bag levy cut bag usage by 90% and helped provide more than £93 million for environmental initiatives. These findings illustrate that the creation of such a levy by the Assembly would have an extremely positive impact on the environment."

ENDS