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The Infrastructure Minister has claimed that it is not feasible to calculate and collect proceeds from the sale of plastic bags for environmental charities, as a politician criticised businesses for "making money out of an environmental issue".
During question time in the States Assembly, Deputy Beatriz Porée expressed disappointment about the limitations of the requirement – introduced in July 2022 – to charge at least 70p for single-use bags.
Deputy Porée asked Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet if consideration had been given to a total ban, and also whether there had been consideration about giving profits from the sale of such bags to environmental causes.
A total ban had been considered, Deputy Binet said, however it had been decided that this would have caused problems if items such as bin-liners and bags for nappies and dog mess had been included.
“I don’t have figures, but my impression is that this move has had a pretty profound effect on shoppers’ habits,” he said.
Pictured: “In principle it is so wrong that these bags are still being produced and sold – companies are making money out of an environmental issue," said Deputy Beatriz Porée.
The Minister added that there had been discussions about money from the sale of bags being given to environmental charities, but that it had been decided that it was not feasible to calculate the amounts due and how to collect the money, with additional challenges about how the recipient charity would be selected.
Deputy Porée said: “In principle it is so wrong that these bags are still being produced and sold – companies are making money out of an environmental issue.”
Deputy Rob Ward supported his Reform Jersey colleague, questioning where the money paid by customers for bags, for example when ordering takeaways, went. This was “an area where the law’s gone wrong”, he added.
Other types of single-use plastic should also come within the scope of Jersey law, Deputy Montfort Tadier said, for example plastic wrapping for foodstuffs. Deputy Binet said he took this on board, but that persuading UK retailers to make specific changes for goods heading to Jersey was unlikely to be a realistic goal.
Deputy Binet said he was willing to discuss the matter further with Deputy Porée and others who were particularly interested in the subject.
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