07/04/2009 - Shoppers urged 'get a bag habit'
Shoppers are being urged to "get a bag habit" as part of a major new drive to get businesses to cut back on the huge amount of plastic carrier bags handed out each year.
Government experts said 9.9 billion carrier bags were handed out to customers in the UK last year - enough to stretch to the moon and back seven times if laid end to end. At the current rate, the Environment Department says the average consumer will have taken 13,000 bags in their lifetime - an average of 160 bags a year.
Under the new "get a bag habit" campaign the Government is hoping to persuade consumers to use their old carrier bags when they go shopping. As part of the initiative the Government has polled the public for top tips on remembering to reuse your bags. Top of the list was keeping bags in your car or in a handbag.
The British Retail Consortium is supporting the campaign and said a voluntary agreement with stores has already seen the number of bags cut by more than a quarter since 2006. A spokesperson added: "We all need to redouble our efforts to reach our target of halving new bag numbers by this May."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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