17/07/2009 - Plastic bags reduced by half in UK
Seven supermarkets that entered into a pact with the Government to halve plastic bag consumption in the UK have almost met their target, figures show.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the scheme has resulted in a 48% drop in the usage of plastic bags in Britain.
Last year, seven supermarkets voluntarily signed up to reduce the environmental nightmare by 50%.
Plastic bags, which are typically used just once, are not biodegradable. This makes their disposal not only difficult, but nearly impossible to safely achieve.
Often dumped just about anywhere, they are fatal to small animals and birds who consume them mistakenly as food. Those that find their way to rivers and seas are a danger to aquatic life, especially turtles.
The number of plastic carry bags in use every month through supermarkets has decreased by 346 million compared to 2006, according to Defra.
During the same period three years ago, 718 million bags were were dispensed through supermarkets.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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