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The problem with plastic supermarket bags is that they are what's known as a "demerit good" - people consume more than the amount that is good for them and the environment, and this is largely because they are free.

Plastic bags have numerous problems with them - when left lying around they look horrible, are a danger to animals and take thousands of years to decompose. During the production process dangerous chemicals are used, and a large amount of waste is produced. In the UK in 2001 the amount of all plastic waste totalled 1,678,900 tonnes. This is getting to be a serious problem, and a charge on plastic bags would certainly reduce consumption.

That having been said though, plastic bags form a very minor part of the plastic consumption of the world - and even all the plastic being made only forms 4% of the total usage of crude oil. Plastic bags form only about 1% of the litter on Britain's streets today - and it's not the fault of the plastic that they are dropped, it's the people. Furthermore, plastic bags are very useful, more durable than many substitutes, waterproof and hygienic. And more than 80% of people re-use their plastic bags.

Interestingly, plastic bags are even more energy efficient in their production process. Making people pay for them would unjustly damage the industry when plastic packaging for example is much more harmful and common.

So actually, although a charge would help the problem, it would likely have unintended consequences. I would argue that it would be far better to research methods of creating biodegradable plastic bags (it has been done), and to educate people in the merits of re-using and recycling plastic bags, whilst giving them an incentive to do so.

Learn more about this author, Algernon Moncrieff.
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