Uni management consider 5p charge to plastic bags on campus

Campus outlets Nisa and YUSU Shop are yet to implement the new 5p plastic bag charge to students – but that might not be the case for much longer.

York could become the first plastic-bag free university campus in the UK after senior University management said levying a charge was something worth looking at.

David Duncan, Registrar and Secretary, said: “We do not currently charge for plastic bags at Nisa but we are keeping this policy under review.

“We would be very interested in the views of York Vision readers as to whether they think a 5p charge should be applied for the sake of the environment.

“If we did, the proceeds could be put towards the YuFund to support student causes.”

The 5p charge should, in theory, reduce the number of plastic bags handed out in supermarkets – which, in 2014, rose to a staggering 7.64 billion – 200 million more than in 2013.

As a result of said reduction, the government hopes for the number of plastic bags used to reduce by 80%.

YUSU Shop has also not implemented the charge, but it seems like students will decide whether or not it will apply.

YUSU President Ben Leatham said: “This is a really interesting idea and one that the student body should make the decision about.

“The Enviroment and Ethics Officers will submit it as an ‘Idea for Change’ in time for the next policy process.

“This will result in students being consulted on the idea of a plastic bag tax in YUSU Shop.

“If there is a clear consensus, it will be implemented. “If not it will go to referendum. How exciting!”