The new single-use bags legislation in Jersey..

As we will know from Government of Jersey bulletins and communication, the Government of Jersey Assembly agreed in June 2021 to ‘ban the sale and use of single-use bags” both Plastic and Paper, the objective being to reduce waste and increase the use of ‘re-usable bags.’

This new legislation means both plastic and paper bags must be re-usable and will now carry a cost to the consumer of at least 70pence including GST.  Traders will be given a 6-month grace period (by the Government of Jersey)  to clear any non-compliant stock, so that write-offs are minimised during the changeover.  Therefore, the full implementation of the Law will take effect from 20 January 2023. (links to the official documentation are listed further below) .

Supported by a detailed technical specification of the bags included and exempt from the ban, the new law focuses on eradicating lightweight plastic and paper carrier bags. Removing these single use items from the supply chain supports a shift towards bags that can be reused multiple times and can be recycled at the end of their useful life