Call for more action in the war against plastic waste in Wales

Following the announcement this week that the UK Government will increase the single-use carrier bag charge to 10p from April 2021 in England, Janet Finch-Saunders MS – the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy, and Rural Affairs – has called on the administration here to do the same.

Mrs Finch-Saunders said:

“Wales is falling behind on the war on plastic waste. Whilst I welcome the fact that the Welsh Labour-led Government is pursuing the Welsh Conservative proposal to ban single use plastics, more can be done.

“We were the first UK country to introduce a charge for single use carrier bags, but there is the need to build on this to secure further reductions in use.

 “Decisive action is needed in the war against plastic, so it’s time for the administration in Wales to increase the minimum mandatory charge from 5p to 10p.

 “The UK Government found a significant majority of respondents to be in favour – 74 percent of the public and 71 percent of organisations. There is momentum in England, and I believe that we have the same passion for reducing our reliance on single-use plastic bags and protecting the environment here in Wales.

 “Why dither and delay? The First Minister and his party could easily step up the war against plastic waste in Wales.”