Plastic bag charge: How you can avoid paying the 5p tax

A 5p charge for single-use plastic bags takes effect in England next week in an effort to spare the environment from the billions handed out by United Kingdom supermarkets every year.

The use of a plastic carrier bag is something which affects everyone on a daily basis.

Experts are now examining options for biodegradable bags to replace the existing single-use plastic bags, which are produced primarily of fossil-fuel-derived polyethylene.

Supermarket shoppers will have to pay 5p for single-use carrier bags from next week under a new law introduced to stem litter and help wildlife.

The Government has already issued a rule book for retailers on when they will and won’t have to charge – but it contains a few loopholes, which we list below.

About 7.6bn plastic bags were given out in the United Kingdom last year, or 140 bags per person, and the number has risen for five years running.

That’s the equivalent to 61,000 tonnes in total.

There are exemptions for shops in airports and on trains, but not for bio-degradable bags, prompting criticism from environmental campaigners.

Adding to the confusion, Defra has also exempted certain products, including unwrapped food, raw meat and fish, prescription medicine, uncovered blades, flowers, live fish and “unwrapped food”, which entitle shoppers to receive a free plastic bag. Need not to worry you won’t be charged for the plastic bag these items are placed in. Plastic bags are undeniably useful – they can carry 2,500 times their own weight – so rather than binning them, keep one or two in your bag ahead of your next trip to the supermarket.

How many carrier bags are you hoarding?

Where will the money from the charges go to? Morrisons has committed to donating income from the charge to its charitable foundation which will offer grants to local charities across the country.

Will it include home deliveries?

When is the charge being brought in?

This charge will also apply to online shopping orders, for example, Tesco have contacted customers highlighting the change: “So that we comply at tesco.com, unless you choose a bagless delivery, there will be a charge per order for an online grocery delivery or collection… worked out based on the average number of carrier bags needed to pack an order”.

The Government expects to see a reduction of up to 80% in the use of single-use carrier bags in supermarkets, and 50% on the high street in England, as well as £60 million saved in litter clean-up costs and £730 million generated for good causes.

Will you be affected by the charge?