The annual figures (2012) on plastic bag use show a 4% increase in their use in England, but a 76% fall in Wales, where a charge was introduced in October 2011. The mayor has lobbied the Government to act, but has refused to publicly criticize the government for their long standing refusal to enact reserve legislation to bring in a mandatory charge on all single use carrier bags in England. Boris Johnson in his 2008 Environment election manifesto was calling for a ban on single use plastic bags.
London Green Party Assembly Member Jenny Jones said:
“London needs this charge on ‘use and throw’ plastic bags. All the evidence shows that a charge on single use plastic bags would dramatically reduce the environmental damage that these bags cause.
The Mayor of London originally supported a ban on single use plastic bags and claims to have lobbied the Government on introducing a charge. It’s time for Boris to publicly press them on their failure to act”
The illusion of the free plastic bag is just that, it’s an illusion; they are in fact quite expensive. Retailers pass on the cost to shoppers in the form of higher prices. We then pay for their disposal through council taxes or other taxes used for clearing blocked drains and waterways. Wildlife pays when birds and animals mistake plastic for food, or get entangled.”