Dave Thompson MSP

The independent charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has revealed new polling which shows public support for the introduction of a 5p mandatory charge for retail bags by almost 2 to 1. The release of the poll coincides with the launch of its campaign on the issue, with the “Bag Monster” visiting the Scottish Parliament to meet with Dave Thompson MSP.

It is proposed that the proceeds of the single use carrier bag charge, known as the bag levy, will be required to be given to charitable, good causes, similar to arrangements now in place in Wales. The Welsh regulations have resulted in an 80% decline in the number of single use bags being used in shops, a similar decline to reductions achieved in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In a poll of 1,037 Scottish adults, conducted by YouGov for Keep Scotland Beautiful, those supporting the proposals outnumbered those opposing by 54% to 28%.

Backing the campaign, Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said: “I’m delighted to support these proposed new regulations.  The bag levy will be a big step towards a reduced litter problem.

“It will also reduce our use of unsustainable materials and – in the process – make a difference to the many charities that will benefit from the proceeds.

Launching the campaign, Mark Bevan, Head of Campaigns at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “The introduction of the charge has the potential to make a real difference to levels of litter on the streets of Scotland, a problem identified by the hundreds of thousands volunteers who are helping our Clean Up Scotland Campaign.

“Reinvesting the proceeds into local communities would provide opportunities for community based organisations and retailers to work together to improve the local areas in which we live, work and enjoy leisure time.

“Scotland has a litter problem and these regulations could help significantly."

Note:

Further information on Scotland’s bag levy is available at www.baglevy.com

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 1,037 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30th October - 1st November 2013.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Scottish adults (aged 18+).

Keep Scotland Beautiful is the independent charity which campaigns, acts and educates on a range of local, national and global environmental issues which affect people’s quality of life. It is committed to making Scotland clean and green, today and tomorrow. Further details from www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org