[GreenYes] Plastic bag tax in Ireland reduces bags by 90%, raises 10M euros

["Marjorie J. Clarke, Ph.D." <mclarke@no.address>]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2205419.stm

A tax on plastic shopping bags in the Republic of Ireland has cut 
their use by more than 90% and raised millions of euros in revenue, 
the government says.

The tax of 15 cents per bag was introduced five months ago in an 
attempt to curb litter, and the improvement had been immediate and 
"plain to see", said Environment Minister Martin Cullen.

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The levy has been an outstanding success in achieving what it set out to do
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Environment Minister Martin Cullen
He said that the 3.5 million euros in extra revenue raised so far 
would be spent on environmental projects.

The "plastax" is being closely watched by other countries, 
particularly neighbouring Britain.

Bangladesh has banned polythene bags altogether while Taiwan and 
Singapore are taking steps to discourage their use.

"The levy has been an outstanding success in achieving what it set 
out to do," said Mr Cullen.

"Over one billion plastic bags will be removed from circulation while 
raising funding for future environmentally friendly initiatives."

He added: "It is clear that the levy has not only changed consumer 
behaviour in relation to disposable plastic bags, it has also raised 
national consciousness about the role each one of us can, and must 
play if we are to tackle collectively the problems of litter and 
waste management."

Windblown litter

The environment ministry estimated that about 1.2 billion free 
plastic bags were being handed out every year in the republic, 
leaving windblown bags littering Irish streets and the countryside.

In the three months after the tax was introduced, shops handed out 
just over 23 million plastic bags - about 277 million fewer than 
normal, the government said.

Shopper packs bags

Free bags are often discarded thoughtlessly
Shoppers are being encouraged to use tougher, reusable bags.

The ministry said that if the current trend continued, the tax would 
bring in 10 million euros in a full year.

Other countries around the world are also taking action to curb 
plastic bag litter.

In March, Bangladesh banned polythene bags after it was found that 
they were blocking drainage systems and had been a major culprit 
during the 1988 and 1998 floods that submerged two-thirds of the country.

Taiwan and Singapore are also moving to ban free plastic bags and in 
South Africa they have been dubbed the "national flower" because so 
many can be seen flapping from fences and caught in bushes.
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See also:
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04 Mar 02 | Europe
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1853305.stm>Shoppers face 
plastic bag tax
04 Mar 02 | N Ireland
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1854239.stm>NI shoppers 
'would bring their own bags'
04 Jan 02 | Business
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1742716.stm>Bangladeshi jute bag 
demand soars
04 Mar 02 | Europe
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1849302.stm>A world drowning in litter
03 Oct 01 | Asia-Pacific
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1576782.stm>Taiwan to 
ban free plastic bags
14 May 01 | South Asia
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1329600.stm>Bombay gets 
tough on plastic bags




Maggie Clarke, Ph.D.
mclarke@no.address
Environmental Scientist and Educator
http://geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~mclarke/index.html
New York City