Diana Wallis, a keen environmental activist said "For three years the Irish government has had a 15c (about 10p) tax on carrier bags. By most standards it has been a huge success, as the plastic bags which were clogging up Ireland's hedgerows were almost immediately done away with. At the same time this tax has provided a valuable source of finance used to support environmental projects. It is evidence that people's behaviour can be changed with a small financial inducement."
Tania added "It is estimated that a billion plastic carrier bags are disposed of every year in Yorkshire alone. This is hugely wasteful. I'm sure most of us would be more inclined to use our carrier bags again if we were going to be charged for them. I know some supermarkets are introducing recycled carrier bags, but that still doesn't address the issue of disposal. And plastic bags made from biodegradable materials still take three years to disintegrate."
Diana and Tania joined local Liberal Democrats in Scarborough town centre on Saturday 7th October and collected signatures for a petition asking for a tax on carrier bags.
