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| Retailers miss plastic bag target | Retailers miss plastic bag target |
| (1 day later) | |
| Efforts to cut by half the number of plastic carrier bags supermarkets give their customers have narrowly failed. | Efforts to cut by half the number of plastic carrier bags supermarkets give their customers have narrowly failed. |
| Last year seven supermarkets signed up to the voluntary scheme which aimed for a 50% cut in bags given out compared to figures recorded for 2006. | Last year seven supermarkets signed up to the voluntary scheme which aimed for a 50% cut in bags given out compared to figures recorded for 2006. |
| However figures suggest 346m fewer carrier bags are being used every month than they were in 2006. | However figures suggest 346m fewer carrier bags are being used every month than they were in 2006. |
| Plastic bags harm the environment because they take a long time to decompose and can endanger wildlife. | Plastic bags harm the environment because they take a long time to decompose and can endanger wildlife. |
| In May 2006, 718m bags were being given out but by May 2009 this had almost halved to 372m, which amounts to a reduction of 48%. | In May 2006, 718m bags were being given out but by May 2009 this had almost halved to 372m, which amounts to a reduction of 48%. |
| This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month Environment Secretary Hilary Benn | This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month Environment Secretary Hilary Benn |
| In Scotland, the reduction was 49% representing 39m bags fewer in May 2009 compared with the same month in 2006. | |
| Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "This is a great achievement by the seven supermarkets and their customers and it shows that by working together, we really can change our bag habits." | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "This is a great achievement by the seven supermarkets and their customers and it shows that by working together, we really can change our bag habits." |
| He praised retailers for putting a lot into the scheme, and said he was looking forward to further reductions in the months ahead. | He praised retailers for putting a lot into the scheme, and said he was looking forward to further reductions in the months ahead. |
| Mr Benn added: "This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month and we're using less raw materials to make them, which is great news." | Mr Benn added: "This means that several hundred million fewer carrier bags are going to landfill every month and we're using less raw materials to make them, which is great news." |
| The British Retail Consortium believes consumer behaviour has now changed, helped by supermarkets giving out free re-usable bags and awarding loyalty points to customers who bring their own bags. | The British Retail Consortium believes consumer behaviour has now changed, helped by supermarkets giving out free re-usable bags and awarding loyalty points to customers who bring their own bags. |
| As a result, some environmentalists are now calling for a charge of up to 15 pence for each disposable carrier bag. | As a result, some environmentalists are now calling for a charge of up to 15 pence for each disposable carrier bag. |