Peer urges action on plastic bags

Ordinary plastic bags can take 100 years to degrade

A leading Ulster Unionist peer has called for more research into environmentally-friendly plastic bags.

UUP president Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh said ordinary disposable plastic bags can take 100 years to degrade.

He said they can cause a terrible scar on the countryside and steps must be taken to protect it.

Lord Rogan said he was in favour of a tax on the use of plastic bags similar to the one introduced in the Republic of Ireland two years ago.

Degrades quicker

He said the introduction of a tax on plastic bags seemed to have had a "dramatic affect" on usage.

"I believe we are destroying the environment and we have got to take steps to protect it," he said.

"I don't see why we should not put a tax on plastic bags, as other countries have done, but I don't think the government are minded to do that.

"And even if they are we should be putting research into a plastic bag that degrades quicker, perhaps destroying themselves in three years or five years."

Lord Rogan said he had pressed the government to support research in to bio-degradable plastic bags and would revisit the issue in the New Year if no action was taken.

Another idea would be to go back to paper bags, which destroy themselves much quicker Lord Rogan

Most types of plastic takes centuries to break down.

Not only does it take up space in landfill sites but it leaches toxins into the soil and water.

Incinerating plastic is like burning a fossil fuel, it contributes greenhouse gases and pollutants to the atmosphere.

Lord Rogan said that supermarket Co-op had done some work on plastic bags that degrade quicker but more research needed to be done.

He added: "Another idea would be to go back to paper bags, which destroy themselves much quicker."