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| Plastic bag charge in Scotland sees usage cut by 80% | Plastic bag charge in Scotland sees usage cut by 80% |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The number of plastic bags handed out in stores was slashed by 80% - the equivalent of 650 million carriers - in the first year of Scotland's 5p charge. | The number of plastic bags handed out in stores was slashed by 80% - the equivalent of 650 million carriers - in the first year of Scotland's 5p charge. |
| New figures were released on the anniversary of its introduction. | New figures were released on the anniversary of its introduction. |
| The charge for single-use carriers has also raised about £6.7m for good causes in the past 12 months. | The charge for single-use carriers has also raised about £6.7m for good causes in the past 12 months. |
| Scotland's Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead hailed the 5p charge a "major success", and thanked Scotland for "embracing the policy". | Scotland's Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead hailed the 5p charge a "major success", and thanked Scotland for "embracing the policy". |
| He added: "Previously, statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year - more per head than anywhere else in the UK. | He added: "Previously, statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year - more per head than anywhere else in the UK. |
| "It's now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment." | "It's now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment." |
| Morrisons, the Co-operative, Waitrose and Boots have all reported an estimated 80% reduction in carrier bag use, with Asda witnessing a drop of 90% and Sainsbury's 100% as it no longer offers them to shoppers. | Morrisons, the Co-operative, Waitrose and Boots have all reported an estimated 80% reduction in carrier bag use, with Asda witnessing a drop of 90% and Sainsbury's 100% as it no longer offers them to shoppers. |
| In 2011, Wales was the first nation in the UK to introduce a bag charge. Northern Ireland followed in April 2013. | In 2011, Wales was the first nation in the UK to introduce a bag charge. Northern Ireland followed in April 2013. |
| The policy came into being in Scotland on 20 October last year and England introduced charging at the beginning of this month. | The policy came into being in Scotland on 20 October last year and England introduced charging at the beginning of this month. |
| What's the environmental saving? | What's the environmental saving? |
| Scottish government research concludes that a reduction of 650 million bags north of the border means a net saving of more than 4,000 tonnes of plastic and other materials each year. | Scottish government research concludes that a reduction of 650 million bags north of the border means a net saving of more than 4,000 tonnes of plastic and other materials each year. |
| That is the equivalent of more than 500 million single-use carrier bags once it is offset by estimated increases in other forms of plastic bag, such as bags for life. | That is the equivalent of more than 500 million single-use carrier bags once it is offset by estimated increases in other forms of plastic bag, such as bags for life. |
| The net carbon saving is more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. | The net carbon saving is more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. |
| All retailers are being urged to sign up to Scotland's carrier bag commitment, an agreement to disclose information on the charge and donations made to good causes. | All retailers are being urged to sign up to Scotland's carrier bag commitment, an agreement to disclose information on the charge and donations made to good causes. |
| Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said it was really great to see how successful the initiative had been. | |
| He added: "Before the charge Scotland consumed a staggering 800 million carrier bags every year, many of which ended up polluting our environment and threatening wildlife. | He added: "Before the charge Scotland consumed a staggering 800 million carrier bags every year, many of which ended up polluting our environment and threatening wildlife. |
| "As an additional benefit, less resource use also means fewer carbon emissions." | "As an additional benefit, less resource use also means fewer carbon emissions." |