Roger is supporting the Break the Bag Habit campaign run by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Keep Britain Tidy, the Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage, which calls on the Government to reduce litter and waste by requiring retailers to introduce a charge on all new single-use bags.
Roger said: “Single-use plastic bags are wasteful of resources and all too often end up as litter, which takes hundreds of years to degrade, whether on land or at sea; strewn in our towns, countryside or beaches they are an eyesore, and often a hazard to wildlife.
Last year was the second in a row to see an increase in the use of single-use bags. In 2011 a total of eight billion ‘thin-gauge’ bags were issued throughout the UK, which represents a 5.4% increase compared with 2010 (7.8 billion). I am very concerned that all of the net growth occurred in England, particularly as England remains the sole home nation not to have a single-use bag charge in place or to be actively seeking to introduce one. “
He went on to say: “In October 2011, Wales introduced a charge of 5p per carrier bag. Since then retailers have reported a drop in bag usage of between 70-96%, while Welsh public support for the charge grew to 70%. When Ireland introduced a plastic bag charge in 2002, carrier bag use fell by 90%, as did the amount of litter. Even retailers seem to agree that a charge is the only way to secure real change.” Roger has shown his support for the campaign by signing Early Day Motion 534.

This article appeared in the November edition of Roger's newsletter 'Postcard from Parliament'