Shops face fines of up to £1,000 as single-use bag grace period ends

Friday 20 January 2023

Retailers who continue to give single-use plastic and paper bags to customers after today could be fined up to £1,000.

On 21 July 2022, the Single Use Plastics Law was introduced, meaning islanders could no longer receive single-use carrier bags with their purchases.

Under the law, shops, restaurants, events and all traders are also required to charge at least 70p for any reusable bags that they issue.

A six-month ‘using up’ period was introduced to allow traders to get through any single-use bags they may already have had in stock at the time - but that period has ended today (Saturday 21 January).

Pictured: Traders found selling single-use plastics bags could be fined up to £1,000.

Any traders who still have stocks remaining of single-use bags are being given the option of donating them to a local charity or to dispose of them.

However, those who continue to hand them out may face a fine of up to £1,000.

Infrastructure Minister Deputy Tom Binet said: “Since the law came into effect last summer, everyone seems to have responded very positively, with the vast majority now using reusable bags to do their shopping.

"There certainly has been a period of culture change which will be established for the long-term from this weekend."

Robert Timoney, Regulation Standards Manager, added: “In the main, traders have been compliant with the new rules, and it has been particularly pleasing to see the support from traders, displaying the prominent green posters in shops and restaurants around the island, reminding people of the law."

For more information and details of compliant and non-compliant bags, click HERE.