New environment secretary Theresa Villiers claims society has called time on being “throwaway” after the publication of new figures showing the diminishing use of single-use plastic bags.
The figures from Defra show the number of single-use plastic bags sold in the main supermarkets has fallen by more than 90% to the end of the past financial year, since the introduction of the 5p charge in October 2015.
The sale of single-use bags fell 37% to 1.1bn in the 2018/2019 financial year at Asda, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose, Defra said.
The average person in England now buys 10 bags a year from the main supermarkets, compared with 140 bags in 2014, before the charge was introduced.
Villiers said comprehensive action to slash plastic waste and leave the environment in a better state continued to deliver results.
“No one wants to see the devastating impact plastic waste is having on our precious wildlife,” she said. “Today’s figures are a powerful demonstration that we are collectively calling time on being a throwaway society.”
The figures show that 5p plastic bag sales have contributed about £169m towards charities and other good causes.
More than £22m was raised in the past financial year.
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