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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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10 January 2023
SDLP Calls For Action On Plastics Ban In NI
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SDLP Calls For Action On Plastics Ban In NI
The SDLP has called for progress to be made on a single-use plastics ban in Northern Ireland. Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan made the call after an announcement that a ban would be progressed in England before the end of the year.
25 February 2020
Carrier Bag Tax Raises £2.2m
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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.
12 June 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.
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.
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.
£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.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
