Bag warning to stores ahead of new 5p charge

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charges Order 2015 means from October 5, larger retailers must charge shoppers at least 5p for each disposable plastic carrier bag they provide.

The charge is just one of the environmental measures being introduced under the Climate Change Act 2008 and is aimed at reducing 7 billion plastic bags thrown away each year.

Similar legislation introduced in Wales, in 2011, led to a 79 per cent reduction in the number of carrier bags being treated as waste.

The charges don’t just apply to big supermarkets, but will affect any retailer with 250 or more employees.

County Coun Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health and wellbeing said: “Making small changes to our shopping habits can make a huge difference to the environment. Reusing some of the 130 carrier bags we each throw away every year could have significant benefits to wildlife, and help to save energy, and reduce waste and pollution.”

For more information contact Trading Standards on (01772) 532145.