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Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 7245, tabled on 4 September 2017

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what environmental projects have benefited from the introduction of the 5 pence carrier bag charge.

Answered on

12 September 2017

Since the introduction of the five pence carrier bags charge in October 2015, more than £95 million has been donated to good causes, including charities and community groups in the areas of the environment, education, health, arts, heritage and sports as well as local causes chosen by customers or staff.

The Government does not hold information on which environmental projects have benefitted from the charge. Retailers are required to report on the use of any net proceeds of the charge, but there is no legal obligation for retailers to report on which projects in particular have benefitted.