Plastic bag charge: Scots tell of paying for carriers

This represented a 21 per cent increase on the number used in 2010.

The British government expects the scheme to reduce usage by up to 80 percent in supermarkets.

The change will require shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops to use their own bags or pay the charge. “This could defeat the main point of the charge in the first place – to change the way people and stores think about over-using plastic bags”. The newspaper welcomes the new charge but questions whether all the exemptions are really necessary.

Break the Bag Habit spokeswoman Samantha Harding said: “This poll shows that the appetite is there to support a more comprehensive scheme, and tackle more of the bag litter that blights our countryside, rivers, towns and seas”. Indeed, MP Joan Walley, Chair of the Committee, said that ministers had “managed to make a complete mess of the carrier bag charge”.

Morrisons and Ocado are charging 5p for each bag used, but paying 5p for every bag returned to drivers, regardless of what retailer they are from.

Any store found failing to comply will be given a fixed fine of up to £200 and a variable fine of up to £5,000.

Of course, there is a good chance you have a draw full of the things in the kitchen anyway, so how can you re-use these ever-present bags?

Northern Ireland and Scotland have also reported significant drops.

Tesco will donate the money to local environmental projects and customers will be able to vote on what should receive funding.

In Scotland, Boots has been giving money from charges to Macmillan Cancer Support. It has also committed to making no deduction for administrative costs.

From today a law has come into play which means we all have to pay a whopping 5p per plastic bag at any mainstream retailer or shop.

Shoppers face a 5p charge for plastic carrier bags from today as part of a Government scheme to reduce litter and protect wildlife.

Retailers do not have to pass the proceeds on to the Government, as it is not actually a tax.

England is the last part of the United Kingdom to start charging for bags.

However a few stores, including Londis, Budgens, Spar, One Stop and Landmark Costcutter are expected to encourage their independent retailers to add the fee for bags taken at the till despite not being legally required to do so.