Mike Pringle set to re-introduce Bag Bill

12.00.00am GMT Tue 18th Mar 2008

Last week Liberal Democrat Mike Pringle MSP announced his intention to re-introduce his bill to the Scottish Parliament proposing a 10p levy on all plastic bags. The money raised from the levy is set to be reinvested in local environmental projects.

Mike Pringle said "I am delighted to announce my plans to re-submit my bill, if endorsed by parliament it will represent a massive step forward in the fight against plastic waste.

"The last time I tabled the bill in 2005 the Environment Committee recommended that it be put back until retailers had had a chance to introduce voluntary measures to cut bag use. Unfortunately, although there has been some progress with national retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Ikea and B&Q introducing charging for bags, not nearly enough has been done.

"Environmental issues have shot up the political agenda in recent years as people have realised the enormity of the task we all face in tackling climate change.

"Big changes on terms of energy production and transport infrastructure may be needed in the future but a great place to start is in reducing the thousands of tons of plastic waste that Scotland produces every year."