UK: Northern Ireland Government decides against planned bag levy increase

The Northern Ireland Government had previously proposed increasing the levy to ten pence from April 2014. However, the August release of provisional first quarter figures showed a large reduction in single use bag numbers. After reflecting on this and engaging with stakeholders, the Minister has decided to keep the levy at five pence.
The Minister still intends to proceed with plans to extend the five pence levy to low cost reusable carrier bags from April 2014. This is to prevent these bags becoming the new ‘throwaway’ bags. The Carrier Bags Bill, which will provide the Department with the powers to apply the extension, was introduced to the Assembly in June. The Bill is currently being scrutinised by the Environment Committee (Press Release Northern Ireland Government, 9 September 2013).
Click here for the press release.
Click here for more information about the reduction in single use bag numbers.

This news item is also included in our monthly overview, the NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411.