Bag alert: 200 days to go

In a little under 200 days, Welshpool shops will charge you at least 5p for a plastic bag under a new directive being brought in by the Welsh Assembly Government.

 

Local shopkeepers are among the 24,000 retailers that will receive information packs informing them of the ruling which will make Wales the first UK country to introduce a charge for single-use carrier bags from October 1.

 

The move is part of the Assembly Government’s goal of dramatically reducing the number of carrier bags given out to shoppers.

 

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: “There is no doubt in my mind that such a reduction is needed. In Wales during 2009 we took home on average 273 carrier bags per household from the major supermarkets alone. Add to this the number of bags we pick up when shopping on the high street or at smaller stores and you are left with an even higher figure.

 

“Whilst I know that reducing our use of single use carrier bags is not going to solve all our environmental problems the charge delivers an important message about the need for us to live much more sustainable lives.”  

 

 “The idea of the charge is not to make people pay for carrier bags. Rather it is to encourage shoppers to make use of the bags they already have.

 

This week, Tesco opened in Welshpool with a free bag (pictured) for every shopper that came through the doors in the morning.