ConservingNow Community Change

Following Ireland’s lead, Wales is considering a tax on plastic bag distributed by retailers.  

“According to reports yesterday, the Welsh Assembly is the latest government to consider outlawing the free distribution of plastic bags in shops. Jane Davidson, the Welsh environment minister, said that many shoppers were still failing "to embrace the environmental message" despite a raft of measures by supermarkets and other retailers to encourage us to use fewer of them. One solution now being given serious consideration by the Welsh authorities is the introduction of a 15p levy on every plastic or paper bag handed out to shoppers in the principality. Any revenue raised would be ring-fenced for local environmental projects, the minister said. (She also admitted that a small number of shoppers might be tempted to shop across the border in England to escape the tax.)”

In this article, author Leo Hickman argues that a plastic bag tax is not necessarily what the environment needs.  He argues that it allows us to overlook larger problems, such as climate change and overpopulation, for example.  

While we agree with Mr. Hickman that there are a number of problems on the planet that we need to be actively seeking solutions for, we believe that every little step (no matter how small) is so important.  Its also nice to be able to begin to change our habits and lifestyles, one step at a time.  

For more information:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/aug/11/plastic-bags-welsh-ass...