FOCUS: Jersey prepares to go plastic-bag free

Monday 14 June 2021

Single-use plastic bags are likely to be banned by the end of the year and a bag-for-life will cost at least 70p. Express looks at how shopping could look in future...

Having already approved the principle last year of stopping retailers from giving out or selling single-use bags, the States Assembly is now being asked to approve the details.

After talking to traders, the Government has had to fine-tune the proposed legislation after accepted some justifiable reasons for single-use bags: for instance, those used for fresh fish, medicines, dog poo and nappies, and duty-free goods sold at the Airport.

How did the law come about? 

In June 2020, the States Assembly overwhelmingly backed Deputy Inna Gardiner’s proposition to ban the supply and distribution of specific types of single-use plastic and paper bags by all retailers, as well as the setting of a minimum price for bag for life.

Deputy Gardiner lodged her proposal after attending a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association workshop, where she had discovered that lots of other small jurisdictions had already banned these bags.

Why paper bags too?

The States Assembly was less convinced on supporting this part last June – with 18 Members voting against – but more (26 Members) agreed that it made sense to ban paper bags to stop them becoming a simple alternative to plastic bags. According to research conducted by the UK Environment Agency, a paper carrier bag has to be re-used at least three times to be as ‘environmentally-friendly’ as a single-use plastic carrier bag.

What specifically is banned?

The definitions refer to specific bag weights and designs, which will probably go over the heads of most shoppers but as the ban applies to their importation and supply, it is traders who will need to pay attention.

Three types will be banned, if the States agree to support the regulations:

• Lightweight plastic carrier bags: with or without a handle, made of plastic with a wall thickness of 15 microns and above but less than 50 microns.
• Very lightweight plastic carrier bags: with or without handle, made of plastic with a wall thickness of less than 15 microns and not meeting the “OK compost HOME” (or equivalent) certification.
• Paper carrier bags: with or without handle, made of paper to a weight of 50 gsm and above but less than 170 gsm.

Which bags are exempt?

• Very lightweight plastic carrier bags: with or without a handle, made of plastic with a wall thickness of less than 15 microns and meet the “OK compost HOME” (or equivalent) certification, such as those used for loose veg at the supermarket.
• Paper ‘counter’ bags: Paper bags, with or without a handle, which are less than 50 gsm – such as a bag used at a bakery for croissants and sausage rolls.
• Integral product packaging: a bag that is an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to sale, such as those used for bread, bananas and ice.
• Gift bags: paper bags, with or without a handle, purchased for the intended purpose of gift wrapping only.
• Bin liners, dog poo bags and nappy sacks.
• Bags used to contain uncooked fish and fish products; prescription medicines or an appliance; live fish or other aquatic creatures; goods in transport, such as at an airport, plane or ship.

Why will a bag-for-life cost 70p?

The Government says that this ‘user-pays’ approach has been adopted to discourage purchase and encourage consumers to reuse bags already in their ownership. The proposed minimum 70p price is the same as the UK recommendation made in 2019 and reaffirmed in January 2021 by the Environmental Investigation Agency and Greenpeace.

When will this ban come in?

The regulations making Deputy Gardiner’s proposal an actual law will be debated next month. It is hoped that the ban will come in within six months of the regulations being passed, so possibly before the end of the year or early next year.

What about other single-use plastics, like takeaway food containers?

The Government says that this bag legislation is the “start of a journey” to reduce the use of other avoidable single use items such as takeaway food and drink containers. 

“Taking these items out of the local supply chain would promote the use more sustainable alternatives and challenge single use behaviour further, providing an opportunity to link individual actions to the Island’s Carbon Neutral Strategy and outward global responsibility,” it says.

This legislation has been drafted in such a way so that additional items can be banned in the future under the law, if the States decide.