Ten years on, the plastic bag levy has largely been hailed a success – but has it actually helped the planet? We get two experts to hash it out in this week’s Debate

Yes: Plastic bag use in supermarkets has plummeted

Plastic bags, made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), pose significant recycling challenges. Unlike rigid plastics such as food trays or bottles, LDPE is hard to sort and process. Plastic bags often get tangled in sorting machinery, increasing operational costs for recycling companies. Also, they are prone to contamination with food and other waste, making them difficult to clean and thus less likely to be accepted by recycling facilities. Reducing the demand for plastic bags is therefore crucial to mitigating this waste stream.

The UK’s plastic bag tax, first introduced in 2015, has proven highly effective. By 2023, the 5p charge, later increased to 10p, resulted in a 98 per cent reduction in single-use plastic bags from supermarkets and other retailers compared to 2014 levels. In 2022-23, sales of single-use plastic carrier bags dropped to 133m, down from 7.6bn in........

© City A.M.