After five years, the changes for Single-Use plastic bags have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As reported in an earlier article: Environmental Charge on Plastic Shopping Bags in England, the United Kingdom Government implemented new legislation – The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015 (2015 No. 776), which required all large shops in England to charge 5p for all single-use plastic carrier bags from 5 October 2015.
Similar legislation was introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the following Regulations:
Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014
Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) Regulations 2010
Single Use Carrier Bags Charge Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013
Now, temporary exemptions for home delivery services have been put in place across the United Kingdom in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as follows:
| Country | England |
| Legislation | The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 |
| Temporary Exemption | 21st March 2020 and 21st September 2020 |
| Conditions | Single use carrier bags only intended for use to carry goods that have been purchased online for home delivery in England do not need to be charged during the exemption. After this date, large retailers will be required charge a minimum of 5 pence for single use carrier bags used for home delivery. |
| Country | Scotland |
| Legislation | The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020 |
| Temporary Exemption | 2nd April 2020 to the 3rd October 2020 |
| Conditions | Single use carrier bags only intended for use to home delivery, carry goods purchased for collection or to carry pre-prepared food or drinks purchased for delivery or collection as part of a takeaway food service in Scotland, do not need to be charged during the exemption. After this date, large retailers will be required charge for single use carrier bags in accordance with the existing legislation. |
| Country | Wales |
| Legislation | The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 |
| Temporary Exemption | 8th April 2020 and 8th July 2020 |
| Conditions | Single use carrier bags only intended for use to carry goods that have been purchased for delivery as part of a grocery service or for collection of groceries in Wales, do not need to be charged during the exemption. After this date, large retailers will be required charge for single use carrier bags in accordance with the existing legislation. |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Legislation | The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 |
| Temporary Exemption | 1st April to 30th September 2020 |
| Conditions | Single use carrier bags only intended for use to carry goods supplied for home delivery, as part of a grocery service in Northern Ireland, do not need to be charged during the exemption. After this date, large retailers will be required charge for single use carrier bags in accordance with the existing legislation. |