Plastic bag ban looms, but why? (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Plastic bag ban looms, but why?

8:37am Wednesday 9th January 2008

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HOW will you remember 2007?Perhaps it will be Gordon Brown's rather chaotic start to his premiership? Maybe it will be England's surprise appearance in the Rugby World Cup final.

Or perhaps it will be England's failure to qualify for this year's European Championships.

So what about 2008?

A little story is starting to emerge and it has potential to wind up as many people as two of the above.

In city centres across the UK a certain ban is starting to take hold.

No it's not an alcohol ban, it isn't a smoking ban and it's certainly not a ban on cycling through pedestrianised areas.

Green groups, and a number of councils obsessed with looking as environmentally friendly as possible, want to ban the shopper's best friend - the plastic bag.

This is an idea currently being mulled over by everyone at St Albans District Council.

Just imagine being a city trader now. You have just survived one of the worst trading years in recent history due to a ridiculous series of roadworks. On top of that shoppers are being tempted to larger centres elsewhere or to out-of-town supermarket superstores because of the crippling car park charges.

So just when they thought it was safe to open up again, the council's green policy looks set to kick them when they are down.

Where will shoppers go when they need to purchase a new blender, a railway set for their son, a doll's house for their daughter or five books to read on holiday? Well somewhere that will give you a plastic bag to carry them back to your car, or even worse for traders: the internet.

The idea has already been abandoned in south Manchester where green campaigners have given up on an ill-advised out-and-out ban.

The Sustainable Chorlton group had called on shops to pledge to use only reusable bags and to stop stocking carrier bags. But it has now binned the scheme after only 20 businesses signed up.

Most shopkeepers were opposed to the scheme fearing that they could lose trade if they refused to stock plastic bags forcing campaign leaders to admit that such a ban was "inappropriate". Let's hope one of them calls the district council before it is too late.

Helen Starr-Keddle, who had led the campaign, said: "I think some traders are scared that they will lose customers if they ban plastic bags and they are not prepared to take that risk.

"Our feelings on the use of plastic bags still stand, but we are not going for a complete ban and we must now find an alternative."

Biodegradable plastic bags are a possible solution, but they are more expensive so how will traders fighting for every penny manage?

Rather than banning plastic bags why not offer a rewards system where shoppers who bring carrier bags from home are given something back? At least such rewards would possibly attract shoppers to return to the streets of St Albans.

As you will see from our article on page 3 the majority of traders seem to be against the idea and have doubted the reasons behind it.

David Izzard, owner of High Adventure in Chequer Street, said: "It comes across as a publicity stunt in order to seem green," and Ian Bromage of Village News, High Street, said of the council: "Are they trying to force us out of business?"

I must say I do find it a somewhat strange move. Last night council officers recommended the scheme for approval. But not that long ago councillors met traders to discuss ways of improving footfall in the city centre.

If the council is so keen to go green there are a number of other things it can do instead. Why not make all agendas available online instead of sending tens of thousands in the post to newspapers, councillors and anyone else interested every year? How about thinking about its carbon footprint next time it wants to re-lay the paving in the city centre and choosing not to import it from China?

And if a plastic bag ban is introduced, how on earth does the council plan to police such a scheme?

Will we see the introduction of a plastic bag enforcement officer? Will you be apprehended if you are seen in possession of such an item? Will traders be charged with possession with intent to supply should they dare to help poor old Ethel carry her dozen apples and oranges home from the market with the offending item?

I don't know about you but I very rarely use a plastic bag once anyway.

Every bag is stored in a drawer. I use them to carry my muddy football boots home after a match in my holdall. My dirty kit is also stored in one between the park and home. When I walk the dogs, should they foul, it gets scooped up and placed in a bag. Most old toys get stored in the loft in a bag and we regularly use our supermarket plastic bags when we pop to the corner shop for a bottle of wine, tea bags or a loaf of bread.

So how can the idea be moved forward?

Going back to a rewards system, shops could hand out tickets to those who return plastic bags and green-thinking councils could offer such residents money off their council tax bills.

This would encourage people to recycle but would also help those who hadn't thought to bring a bag with them when they pop into a shop at lunchtime and purchase a large item.

Much more importantly, it will also ensure that the shop makes the sale.

• Is Martin correct or would you welcome a ban. Tell us below.

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