Plastic bag charges 'should be deferred for independent traders '

Asian Business Chamber of Commerce president Jason Wouhra is calling for single-use plastic bag charges for independent traders to be deferred.

Last week, the cost of single-use plastic bags in English shops doubled from 5p to 10p. Retailers of any size are required to apply the charge.

Mr Wouhra, also chief executive of Lioncroft Wholesale Ltd, said that despite positive environmental benefit of the charge, the cost is adding further pressure on independent traders which have already faced a tough year.

He said: “The introduction of the legislation that required businesses to charge for single-use plastic bags, has undoubtedly reduced the amount of single-use plastic in circulation. The benefit this has had on the environment has been immeasurable, bringing about a needed change.

“However, the impact of this charge increasing from 5p to 10p, whilst it has a comparatively smaller effect for larger businesses, it will add a further burden on the independent traders that have already been facing a tough year with the Covid-19 pandemic. ”

Mr Wouhra is calling for the charge to be deferred for the independent trade in order to ease pressure on smaller firms.

He added: “It is most important, due to the pandemic and the fragile business landscape created as a result of it, that the government and consumers do as much as they can to bring back the independent trade as strong as it was pre-Covid.

“Deferment of the single-use plastic bag charges for the independent trade in the short to medium term would be a small positive step. ”