A consultation has opened today to allow Jersey retailers to inform future legislation on the sale of single-use plastic bags. This follows the States Assembly decision to ban specific types of single-use bags and to introduce a minimum price for bags for life.
In June 2020, the States Assembly supported Deputy Inna Gardiner’s proposition to ban the supply and distribution of specific types of single-use plastic and paper bags by all retailers. Deputy Gardiner also proposed setting a minimum price for reusable plastic carrier bags known as ‘bags for life.’
Legislation will now be developed to bring these changes into force. Local retailers are being invited to give their views on how the law should be drafted, and on how the success of the changes should be measured. They are also being asked about the communication tools that retailers would find useful and the time they will need to implement the changes.
A questionnaire and supporting resources are online and all Jersey retailers are encouraged to complete the online survey by midnight on 23 September.
https://www.gov.je/Government/Consultations/Pages/PlasticBagRetailers.aspx
Infrastructure Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis, said: “The aim of the ban and minimum price is to reduce Jersey’s waste and move behaviour away from single-use, as this supports Jersey’s commitment to working together to address the climate emergency. By working with the retail industry, I hope that we can make this a success and help our island be a more sustainable place to live and work.”
The Minister has authorised the drafting of legislation to ban the supply and distribution of certain types of single-use bags by all retailers, and to set a minimum price for the sale of plastic carrier bags, known as ‘bags for life’.
Government of Jersey News Release.