England Increases Levy on Plastic Bags, Strengthens Environmental Cause

While every country is doing its part for environmental conservation, England took a new step setting a new example for other countries to follow.

In a recent drive to reduce plastic bag usage in the country and water pollution, the England Government announced that the cost of all single-use plastic bags in the UK will be increased to 10p (penny) from 5p by 2020.

England Environment Secretary Michael Gove said he’s doubling the levy which will also be applicable to smaller English retailers exempted from the fee earlier.

According to BBC, 3.6 billion single-use plastic bags are handed out to customers by small business in England every year, whereas only a fifth of these business levy a charge on plastic bags

Stores operating independently across New South Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland with 250-staff capacity have already enforced a 5p charge.

Since the 5p levy was introduced in October 2015, environmental conservationists and charities have seen a significant decline in plastic wastage on seashores and in seas.

“The 5p single-use plastic carrier bag charge has been extremely successful in reducing the amount of plastic we use in our everyday lives,” said Gove.

“Between us, we have taken over 15 billion plastic bags out of circulation. But we want to do even more to protect our precious planet and today’s announcement will accelerate further behavior change and build on the success of the existing charge,” he added.

England Education Secretary Damian Hinds has also directed schools to find sustainable alternatives to plastic items such as bottles, food packaging and straws.

In October 2018, the European Union (EU) announced that it would outlaw all plastic items such as cutlery, cotton buds, plates and straws across all member states by 2021 in order to reduce the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean’s pollution levels.

Dead Sea of Plastic Bags

Very recently, Nepal made a remarkable step in creating awareness of the harmful effects of plastic waste on world oceans.

Dozens of Volunteers came together to create a map of the Dead Sea, with the theme ‘One Dead Sea is enough for us’.

“We decided to tie plastic bags and make a sculpture of the Dead Sea to spread awareness over the world to minimize waste of plastic,” said Surgeon BC, Stem Foundation Nepal, the organizer of the event.