Recent media reports have told how the council are planning to bring in a law which will require dog walkers to carry poo bags with them at all times, or face a £75 on the spot fine. But the powers to be are not stopping there.
Wales First
Following the success of the 5p carrier bag charge scheme, coupled with the fact that Wales likes to be first in everything like this these days, the Rhondda is to be the first place in the UK to introduce an on the spot fine for people who go shopping without a used carrier bag.
We beat the English
Since the introduction of the 5p carrier bag scheme back in 2011, the number of single-use plastic carrier bags have declined by more than 70%, making Wales again a pioneer in something new, the scheme was quickly followed by other parts of the UK, including the English who Wales also beat to be first in banning smoking in indoor public places.
Fine
The on the spot fine for not being able to produce a used carrier bag whilst out shopping will be trialled in all areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf in the summer, and if the scheme proves successful it will be rolled out to all other areas of Wales pretty sharpish, with the main aim to cut down the number of carrier bags in circulation and maybe make a few quid for the charitys that currently benefit from the 5p carrier bag charge.
My Rhondda News, who are first to learn about this plan, asked a council spokesperson how the scheme will work, she told us, “Enforcement officers will have the authority to approach anyone who appears to be out shopping, and ask them to produce evidence that they either have bags or other means to carry home their shopping. An offence is committed if the shopper is unable to show the enforcement officer that they have that means.”
Mental
Local Shopper, Stella Van, told My Rhondda News, “It’s absolutely ridiculous really, I recycle my carrier bags by using them as poo bags, does this mean I’m going to be fined for using a carrier bag as a poo bag, ‘cos it’s not a proper poo bag, and get another fine for not having any carrier bags left to go shopping with because I used them all to pick up poo? Mental.”

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