UK plans to double charge on plastic bags

Bloomberg

The UK is planning to double the charge on disposable plastic bags issued by the country’s largest retailers to 10 pence as part of a drive to protect the environment.
The fee will also be extended to all small shops, according to the plans published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The proposals are subject to the results of an eight-week public comment period. The current five-pence charge has cut average annual usage to 19 bags a person from 140, according to government figures.
“Between us, we have taken over 15 billion plastic bags out of circulation,” Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. “But we want to do even more to protect our precious planet, and today’s announcement will accelerate further behaviour change and build on the success of the existing charge.”