Phasing out single-use plastic carrier bags in Coventry

Following national concern about green issues and ways in which we can all reduce waste, improve recycling and reduce the city’s carbon footprint, the Council is looking at the practicality of eliminating single use carrier bags in the city. Many retailers are already acting to reduce the number of carrier bags they hand out and encourage shoppers to use bags for life or pay for carriers.

Let us have your views

This consultation has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views.

The problem

It is estimated that around 13 billion plastic bags (220 per person) are handed out every year by supermarkets in the UK, leading to nearly 60,000 tonnes of plastic going to landfill sites. Plastic carrier bags are used on average for 20 minutes but in the UK they can take between 400 and 1000 years to decay leading to problems of waste generation and environmental impacts.

What is Coventry City Council doing?

In December 2007 the Council backed a proposal, calling for a feasibility study to investigate the elimination of single-use plastic carrier bags in the city by city shoppers and retailers.

As a result - if the plans to eliminate single use carrier bags in the city find large-scale support then the Council will, with its partners, work to achieve this objective. But we are relying on you to give us your views.

Contact details

Sustainable City Team
Freepost CV681
314, Broadgate House
Coventry City Council
CV1 1NH
e-mail: sustainablecity@coventry.gov.uk
Fax: 024 7683 2922

Downloadable documents

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Coventry City Council

Coventry's Climate Change Strategy