Complaints have been made against shopkeepers in Kilkenny city for not implementing the 15 cent plastic bag levy .
"Some retailers are deducting 15 cents off the advertised price of goods in their shops," Kilkenny County Council's environmental education officer, Ms Sadhbh O'Neill claimed yesterday. "For example, goods costing €10 are reduced to €9.85 and the levy is added to bring to the marked price of €10," she claimed.
She said other retailers were not charging for plastic bags. Small plastic bags are exempt as long as they are being used to cover meat, fruit or fish. She called on all shoppers to refuse to take plastic bags and to bring their own bags. "We have found that the public has been more than willing to back this initiative. Retailers who persist in supplying plastic bags are one step behind their customers and need to catch up before they lose out to others who will implement the regulations," she said.
Ms O'Neill said some retailers were skirting around the regulations instead of charging the 15 cent. "We want to see a situation where all plastic bags are properly charged for, or replaced by paper or reusable bags," she said. Ms O'Neill's stance has been supported by Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce.
Ms Alison McGrath, chief executive officer of the chamber, said the introduction of the levy came at a difficult time for retailers and the response had been very good.
"The public is very supportive of the levy and we feel that all retailers must correctly comply because failure to do so may see some customers not returning to shop again in their stores," she pointed out.