12/06/2014

Carrier Bag Levy Raises £2.3m

£2.3m has so far been generated to facilitate the delivery of over 250 environmental projects across Northern Ireland following the introduction of the Carrier Bag Levy.

Last year, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan announced the first ever allocation of Carrier Bag Levy monies to the 2014 Challenge Fund, resulting in a final spend of £2.3million. The Challenge Fund aims to promote environmental projects across Northern Ireland.

The Carrier Bag Levy was introduced in Northern Ireland on 8 April 2013 and means retailers must now charge at least 5p for new single use carrier bags.

Speaking at an event in the Beech Hill Hotel in L'Derry, Minister Durkan said: "The 2014 Challenge Fund has been a great success. The people of Northern Ireland delivered more than 250 environmental projects, reinvesting £2.3million of the proceeds of the Carrier Bag Levy back into the communities that contributed to this levy.

"Be it developing community gardens or removing invasive species, to name but two examples, I very much see the Challenge Fund as the 'People’s Fund'. It inspires local communities to improve their environment and encourages and supports new and existing partnerships between local businesses, schools, environmental groups and residents. I would urge groups across the north to continue to search for projects that benefit their local communities."

(IT/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 October 2013
£1m Carrier Bag Levy To Transform Environmental Projects
£1m received through the carrier bag levy has been allocated by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan to go towards a fund to tackle environmental issues in Northern Ireland. The Challenge Fund provides funding for communities and organisations to develop local environmental projects across the region.
19 August 2021
30% Fewer Disposable Carrier Bags Given Out In The Last Year
The number of plastic, disposable, carrier bags given out by retailers in the last year fell by more than 30%, with 24.3 million fewer bags dispensed. The 8th annual Carrier Bag Levy statistics for Northern Ireland showed that in 2020/21 shows that 56.
25 February 2020
Carrier Bag Tax Raises £2.2m
Some 24 environmental projects are to share in £2.2 million raised through the plastic bag levy. The tax, introduced in April 2013, places a five pence charge on every carrier bag sold.
01 May 2015
£1.25m Natural Environment Fund Opens
A £1.25 million Natural Environment Fund (NEF) has now opened for applications. The fund, for Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) in Northern Ireland, aims to help protect landscape, species and access to the countryside.
12 December 2013
£2.2m Carrier Bag Levy To Fund Community Projects
£2.2m of carrier bag levy money is to be spent on funding for communities and organisations to develop environmental projects across Northern Ireland. Some £1m had initially been set aside; however due to the "overwhelming response" the figure has more than doubled. In total, 251 projects have successfully bid for granted funding.