Shoppers to be charged 5p for using plastic bags

Overall, 15% of consumers said they will pay for, and continue to use plastic carrier bags.

The company’s Group Corporate Services Director, Martyn Jones says: “This is a big change for customers and we are working hard to make our shoppers aware of the charge and provide them with a choice of reusable bags”.

Previous year in the United Kingdom around 8.3 billion plastic bags were used, meaning that around £345 million of revenue will be raised through the scheme, once Value-Added Tax has been paid.

Ahead of this month’s introduction in England of a mandatory charge for using all plastic bags at shops, charity specialist accountants The Fish Partnership is encouraging charities to ask retailers for funding from the income they will generate.

However, from October 5 we will be paying through our pockets as the 5p charge on single use plastic carrier bags comes into force across the UK.

The number of single-use carrier bags handed out by supermarkets in England rose for the fifth year in a row in 2014 to 7.6 billion, the equivalent of 140 bags per person.

Stores there have seen a 71 per cent fall in the number of plastic carriers used by shoppers since the charge was introduced.

That’s the equivalent to 61,000 tonnes in total.

But the bad news is they take longer to degrade, can pose a health threat to wildlife and are also an eyesore when littered in our towns and in the countryside. Need not to worry you won’t be charged for the plastic bag these items are placed in.

Carrier bags can take up to 1,000 years to break down.

How many carrier bags are you hoarding?

The average household also has around 40 bags stashed away in various draws and cupboards.

In Scotland, Boots has been giving money from charges to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Of course, a few large retailers have already pledged to give the money they receive to charities, but not all have specified which organisations will benefit. This applies to supermarkets as well as online delivery companies.

Tesco has alerted its customers that unless you choose bagless delivery there will be a 40p flat charge for home shopping.

When is the charge being brought in?

The scheme in Wales has seen a reduction in plastic bag consumption of 79% since it was launched in 2011.

Following the introduction of the charge, the Government expects to see a reduction of up to 80 per cent in the use of single-use carrier bags in supermarkets and 50 per cent on the high street in England, as well as £60m saved in litter clean-up costs and £730 million generated for good causes. Get involved in our conversation on our Facebook page and tweet us your opinions.