Wales to bring in Law charging 20p for Plastic Bags

2.04.00pm GMT Sun 9th Nov 2008

Epsom & Ewell Lib Dems have been campaigning against the use of plastic bags all year

Shoppers in Wales could face paying up to 20p if they use plastic bags at the checkout after the Climate Change Law comes into force.

Nearly £13 million a year would be raised and would be used to fund Welsh environmental projects. Plastic bag use is expected to go down by 90 per cent, from 583 million a year to just 65 million. The Welsh National Assembly's sustainability committee published a report last week calling for just such a levy - see Related Link below.

The proposals are modelled on a similar scheme in the Republic of Ireland, introduced in 2002.

£2.8million was raised in the first five months and the amount of plastic bag litter was reduced by around 95 per cent. Revenue from that charge is channelled to a Department of the Environment green fund.

Related Link:

Welsh plan