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10/11/2021
Carrier Bag Levy To Increase From 5p To 25p
The Northern Ireland Carrier Bag Levy will increase from 5p to 25p from 01 April 2022, Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced.
The Minister made the announcement during an Oral Statement to the Assembly on Northern Ireland's first overarching Environment Strategy.
In addition to the rise in the Levy, Minister Poots also announced an extension to the existing pricing threshold, which will see all bags priced at £5 or less subject to the levy, irrespective of the material they are made from.
Welcoming today's announcement, Minister Poots said: "Whilst the existing Carrier Bag Levy has been successful in already removing over 1.7 billion bags from circulation, I am aware that a significant number of retailers in NI are selling large volumes of heavy duty bags at a cost of 20 pence or more each. These are now flooding the market and are not being reused, with harmful environmental consequences. This announcement today will go some way towards making Northern Ireland a cleaner and more pleasant place in which to live, by ensuring that proceeds from the Levy are re-invested in supporting the wider NI environmental sector. By continuing to work together we can help meet the New Decade, New Approach commitment on eliminating plastic pollution, this also underpins the draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland, which I recently launched on behalf of the NI Executive."
The Minister continued: "It is unacceptable that far too much plastic ends up as pollution in our environment or waste in our landfills. My Department will continue to work hard on the issue of the circular economy, eliminating plastic pollution and tackling throwaway culture. With over five trillion single use plastic bags used worldwide every year and plastic waste set to quadruple by 2050, I would encourage everyone to play their part locally and re-use bags whenever they can."
The Minister made the announcement during an Oral Statement to the Assembly on Northern Ireland's first overarching Environment Strategy.
In addition to the rise in the Levy, Minister Poots also announced an extension to the existing pricing threshold, which will see all bags priced at £5 or less subject to the levy, irrespective of the material they are made from.
Welcoming today's announcement, Minister Poots said: "Whilst the existing Carrier Bag Levy has been successful in already removing over 1.7 billion bags from circulation, I am aware that a significant number of retailers in NI are selling large volumes of heavy duty bags at a cost of 20 pence or more each. These are now flooding the market and are not being reused, with harmful environmental consequences. This announcement today will go some way towards making Northern Ireland a cleaner and more pleasant place in which to live, by ensuring that proceeds from the Levy are re-invested in supporting the wider NI environmental sector. By continuing to work together we can help meet the New Decade, New Approach commitment on eliminating plastic pollution, this also underpins the draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland, which I recently launched on behalf of the NI Executive."
The Minister continued: "It is unacceptable that far too much plastic ends up as pollution in our environment or waste in our landfills. My Department will continue to work hard on the issue of the circular economy, eliminating plastic pollution and tackling throwaway culture. With over five trillion single use plastic bags used worldwide every year and plastic waste set to quadruple by 2050, I would encourage everyone to play their part locally and re-use bags whenever they can."
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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.
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£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.
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Minister Campaigns Ahead Of Plastic Bag Charge
With just two weeks to go until the carrier bag levy is introduced in Northern Ireland, Environment Minister Alex Attwood has been ramping up the campaign to make sure the public are aware of the new regulations.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
