Charges for single-use plastic carrier bags in England

Carrier Bag Charges

 

As of October 5th 2015 all large retailers must charge a minimum of 5p on all single-use plastic bags. All small-medium retailers do not have to charge, but are being urged to volunteer.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities

 

Criteria of a single-use plastic carrier bag:

 

• Unused - it’s new and hasn’t been used previously for sold goods to be taken away or delivered
• Plastic
• With handles
• 70 microns thick or less

 

As a retailer, it is your responsbiliy to:

• Charge at least 5p a bag (including any VAT)
• Make every effort to ensure that you’re charging for self-checkout bags
• Keep a reporting year’s records for 3 years from 31 May in the following reporting year
• Send records to Defra on or before 31 May following the end of the reporting year

You must also record for the whole reporting year:

• The number of bags supplied
• The gross and net proceeds of the charge
• Any VAT in the gross proceeds
• What you did with the proceeds from the charge

If the retailer doesn't comply, the local authorities can:

• issue a non-compliance notice with steps you must take to correct a breach
• impose a fixed penalty
• impose a discretionary penalty
• order you to advertise that you’ve broken the law, what their penalty was and how you are now complying
• recover the cost of the investigation from you if you breach the law

 

Noble Gift Packaging offers a wide range of alternatives to plastic bags, check them out here