12/02/2009 - Plastic bag charges for Wales
Shoppers in Wales are to be charged for plastic bags after a proposed levy was announced.
Voluntary agreements with shops to cut the use of carriers has not worked as well as expected and therefore the charges are to be introduced, although it is not known how much they will cost and when it will happen.
Environment minister Jane Davidson said: "I am intending to consult on regulations to introduce a levy on single use bags in this summer.
"The exact timetable of the introduction is yet to be decided and will need to form part of the consultation."
A voluntary agreement aims to halve the number of plastic bags used by May, however Ms Davidson said that would still leave around 250 million bags being handed out in Wales every year.
A cross-party report last November said £13 million a year would be raised for good causes if shoppers were charged 20p per bag.
A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "Supermarkets and retailers have achieved a great deal without legislation. They know their customers best and are tailoring their policies towards their own customers.
"We don't see the point of introducing expensive and bureaucratic legislation when the voluntary approach seems to be working."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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