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05/10/2015
Shoppers In England To Pay 5p Plastic Bag Charge
Shoppers in England will have to pay a 5p charge for plastic carrier bags as a new levy comes into effect today, 05 October.
Shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops will now be required to use their own bags or be charged for plastic bags.
England is the last country in the UK to enforce the charge.
Wales introduced the 5p levy in 2011, while Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
In Wales, the charge led to a 79% drop in plastic bags over three years.
The levy will apply for all retailers with 250 or more full-time employees.
Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: "Simple changes to our shopping routines, such as taking our own bags with us or using more bags for life, can make a huge difference in reducing the amount of plastic in circulation meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country.
"Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen a dramatic fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets and we can expect a significant reduction in England, possibly by as much as 80% in supermarkets and 50% on the high street."
In 2014, 7.64 billion single use plastic bags were given out by major supermarkets in England.
(LM/CD)
Shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops will now be required to use their own bags or be charged for plastic bags.
England is the last country in the UK to enforce the charge.
Wales introduced the 5p levy in 2011, while Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
In Wales, the charge led to a 79% drop in plastic bags over three years.
The levy will apply for all retailers with 250 or more full-time employees.
Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: "Simple changes to our shopping routines, such as taking our own bags with us or using more bags for life, can make a huge difference in reducing the amount of plastic in circulation meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country.
"Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen a dramatic fall in the number of plastic bags taken from supermarkets and we can expect a significant reduction in England, possibly by as much as 80% in supermarkets and 50% on the high street."
In 2014, 7.64 billion single use plastic bags were given out by major supermarkets in England.
(LM/CD)
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Scotland To Introduce Plastic Bag Charge
Scotland is to introduce a plastic bag charge for shoppers by 2014. Retailers will have to charge a minimum of 5p per bag, as part of a move to reduce carrier bag use. The move would bring Scotland in line with Northern Ireland, which already has a similar scheme in place. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead announced the move today.
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Drop In Plastic Bag Usage In Wales
The usage of single use carrier bags (SUCB) in Wales has fallen by 71% since charges were introduced in 2011, according to a report. The review for Welsh ministers suggests the implementation of the 5p charge for SUCB has donated between £17m and £22m towards good causes.
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Shopping Basket Thefts Rise After Carrier Bag Levy
A Tesco store in Oldham has fitted its shopping baskets with security tags after a sudden rise in thefts following the introduction of the carrier bag charge. It is understood that a third of the stores baskets were stolen in the week since the new charge was brought in on 04 October, according to a report by the BBC.
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A Tesco store in Oldham has fitted its shopping baskets with security tags after a sudden rise in thefts following the introduction of the carrier bag charge. It is understood that a third of the stores baskets were stolen in the week since the new charge was brought in on 04 October, according to a report by the BBC.
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Immigration Gang Jailed
An immigration scam gang which fraudulently siphoned over £4 million in benefits has been jailed for a total of 19 years.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
