This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Further action needed on plastic bags - Minister
25/10/2006
The Scottish Executive will continue to work to reduce the consumption of plastic bags, Environment Minister Ross Finnie said today.
The statement comes after Mike Pringle MSP decided to withdraw his Environmental Levy on Plastic Bags (Scotland) Bill.
Ross Finnie said:
"Prior to this Bill being introduced, there was very little public knowledge of the environmental issues associated with plastic bags. I welcome Mike Pringle's contribution to raise awareness about the effect our use of plastic and paper bags has among the public - and among retailers in Scotland and across the UK.
"Whilst the debate on Mike Pringle's Bill had been going on, we have seen a range of actions on plastic bags by retailers including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, IKEA, B&Q, Lidl, and Dixons. I continue to encourage everyone to reuse bags wherever possible and to refuse unnecessary bags.
"We are committed to waste prevention and we are currently developing an ambitious waste prevention plan for Scotland which will look at the issues around bags. That will published by the end of the year.
"We are also working with DEFRA, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and UK retailers on a code of practice to reduce the number of bags given to consumers. I hope that retailers will agree to ambitious targets to reduce substantially bag use.
"I would strongly urge retailers to sign up to the voluntary code and I'd expect to see progress shortly. If agreement cannot be reached, then legislation may have to be considered."
A voluntary code in Australia succeeded in reducing plastic bag use by 45%.