This could be a popular tax (From Swindon Advertiser)

This could be a popular tax

8:53pm Friday 4th July 2008

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HUNDREDS of people have joined a battle to ban the bag from the streets of Swindon.

Last weekend Swindon Green Party hit the streets to gather support for a 10p tax on plastic bags.

And in one weekend more than 360 people shopping in Old Town signed up to the petition.

The 10p tax is being called for by Green England, which wants the money raised by the tax to go to environmental projects.

Jenni Miles, the newly elected chairwoman of Swindon Green Party, said: "We were astonished at the numbers of people wanting to support this petition.

"Many people are already making the effort to take their own bags to the supermarket and also to carry a bag with them in case they need one."

The Swindon Green Party argues that plastic bags are not only wasteful, but cause a significant amount of pollution and seriously endanger wildlife.

A beached whale in Mull was recently discovered to have 23 plastic bags in its stomach.

Ten billion plastic bags are given away free every year at supermarket checkouts and will not degrade for up to 400 years.

Jenni said: "With this tax everyone will find it more economical to use "bags for life" than pay for plastic bags each time they shop.

"Meanwhile the Labour Government has been looking into this for seven years but it still has not taken a decision."

The Swindon Green Party says that similar taxes have been in operation in Ireland and Denmark for a number of years.

In Ireland the tax produced a 90 per cent drop in plastic bag use in a very short space of time.

It also raised 3.5m Euros for environmental causes.

Katherine Braniska, who was shopping in Old Town, said: "I agree with the tax. They're a menace."

Beverley Walsh, also shopping Old Town, said: "I don't agree with the tax. You shouldn't have to pay for them. They're rubbish bags anyway."

The Swindon Green Party also offers an attractive alternative to plastic bags - cotton shopping bags which children can decorate with their own designs.

To become a member of the Swindon Green Party, contact Jenni on 01793 529760 or email jenni@swindongreens.org.uk.

To sign the petition visit http://www.green-england.co.uk/ plasticbagpetition

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