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Carrier bag charge 'weeks away' | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A public awareness campaign is being launched to highlight the imminent carrier bag charge. | A public awareness campaign is being launched to highlight the imminent carrier bag charge. |
From 20 October every retailer in Scotland will charge at least 5p for each new carrier bag they give to shoppers. | From 20 October every retailer in Scotland will charge at least 5p for each new carrier bag they give to shoppers. |
MSPs voted to bring in the new regulations to help tackle Scotland's litter problem but the fee is not just for plastic bags. | MSPs voted to bring in the new regulations to help tackle Scotland's litter problem but the fee is not just for plastic bags. |
It will be imposed on carriers made from eco-friendly materials too. | It will be imposed on carriers made from eco-friendly materials too. |
This is the start of a seven-week campaign to alert shoppers to the new fee. | This is the start of a seven-week campaign to alert shoppers to the new fee. |
The charge will not just apply to supermarkets, every retailer in Scotland will charge a mandatory minimum 5p for every new carrier bag issued. | The charge will not just apply to supermarkets, every retailer in Scotland will charge a mandatory minimum 5p for every new carrier bag issued. |
Wales became the first part of the UK to introduce a minimum charge for single-use carrier bags in 2011 and a charge was brought in Northern Ireland last year. | Wales became the first part of the UK to introduce a minimum charge for single-use carrier bags in 2011 and a charge was brought in Northern Ireland last year. |
The Scottish government said the money raised would go to good causes. | The Scottish government said the money raised would go to good causes. |
The campaign is urging people to take re-useable bags with them to the shops if they want to avoid the bag charge. | The campaign is urging people to take re-useable bags with them to the shops if they want to avoid the bag charge. |
'Wasteful attitude' | 'Wasteful attitude' |
When the regulations introducing the charge were approved in June, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland uses around 750 million single-use carrier bags a year, each and every year, from supermarkets alone. More per head than anywhere else in these islands. | When the regulations introducing the charge were approved in June, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland uses around 750 million single-use carrier bags a year, each and every year, from supermarkets alone. More per head than anywhere else in these islands. |
"It's time to take action to reduce the number of these bags given out. So this is part of our wider work to tackle Scotland's litter problem. | "It's time to take action to reduce the number of these bags given out. So this is part of our wider work to tackle Scotland's litter problem. |
"Carrier bags are a highly visible and damaging part of our litter problem in our communities, by our roadsides and in our seas." | "Carrier bags are a highly visible and damaging part of our litter problem in our communities, by our roadsides and in our seas." |
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks welcomed the decision but claimed the number of carrier bags used was even higher. | WWF Scotland director Lang Banks welcomed the decision but claimed the number of carrier bags used was even higher. |
"Scots now consume a staggering 800 million carrier bags annually and the number is rising," he said. "These figures make clear why introducing a charge for single-use carrier bags is the right decision, and one that we support. | "Scots now consume a staggering 800 million carrier bags annually and the number is rising," he said. "These figures make clear why introducing a charge for single-use carrier bags is the right decision, and one that we support. |
"Single use carrier bags are symbolic of our wasteful attitude to resource use which must be addressed if Scotland's vision of a zero waste future is to be realised. | "Single use carrier bags are symbolic of our wasteful attitude to resource use which must be addressed if Scotland's vision of a zero waste future is to be realised. |
"The millions of carrier bags used every year squander non-renewable resources, pollute our environment, threaten wildlife and take decades to break down in landfills." | "The millions of carrier bags used every year squander non-renewable resources, pollute our environment, threaten wildlife and take decades to break down in landfills." |