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Charging for carrier bags cuts use by 147 million in first year Charge cuts plastic bags by 147 million in Scotland
(about 2 hours later)
Making people in Scotland pay for carrier bags reduced their use by 147 million last year. The number of plastic bags handed out by supermarkets in Scotland fell by 147 million last year - the first figures since a 5p charge was introduced.
The drop came despite the 5p charge for single-use bags only being in place for the last 11 weeks of 2014. The reduction came despite the levy for single-use bags only being in place for the final 11 weeks of the year.
It follows statistics released three months ago which suggested the number of carrier bags being used by shoppers had fallen by 90%. But in England - where large shops will have to charge for plastic bags from October - 200 million more bags were used in 2014, Defra research suggested.
Figures from environmental group Wrap covered the 2014 calendar year in the UK from seven major grocery retailers. Northern Ireland saw usage fall by 42.6%, while Wales had a rise of 5.2%.
In Scotland, in the final quarter of the year after the 5p charge was introduced, bag usage dropped by 129 million compared with the previous year. The fall in Scotland follows statistics released three months ago, which suggested the number of carrier bags being used by shoppers had fallen by 90%.
October change
However, in England, the number of single-use bags from supermarkets rose from 7.4 billion in 2013 to just over 7.6 billion last year, statistics from waste reduction body Wrap suggested.
The figures covered the 2014 calendar year in the UK from seven major grocery retailers.
From October, all retailers in England with 250 or more full-time equivalent employees will have to charge a minimum of 5p for bags they give out in stores and for deliveries.
The move will bring England in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, in the final quarter of the year following the introduction of the 5p charge was introduced, bag usage dropped by 129 million compared with the previous year.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the figures were "astounding" and showed the country was serious about tackling litter and reducing waste.Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the figures were "astounding" and showed the country was serious about tackling litter and reducing waste.
Good causes "I hope the public will continue to embrace re-using their bags and that even more retailers will sign up to donate money to good causes when it has been necessary for people to take a bag," he said.
He said: "I hope the public will continue to embrace re-using their bags and that even more retailers will sign up to donate money to good causes when it has been necessary for people to take a bag. A 'big difference'
"These figures also demonstrate how small changes can make a big difference and, as Scotland moves towards a more circular economy, I hope that it inspires people to think about what other actions they can take to reduce the amount of resources that they throw away." He said the figures demonstrate how "small changes can make a big difference".
The Scottish government has said it aims to reduce the use of single-use bags in Scotland by 80% in the first full year of the charge.The Scottish government has said it aims to reduce the use of single-use bags in Scotland by 80% in the first full year of the charge.
That would bring Scotland in line with what Wales and Northern Ireland achieved in the first full year of their campaign. Wales and Northern Ireland achieved similar figures in the first full year of their campaigns.
Previous statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every year - more per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.Previous statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every year - more per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "It's fantastic to learn that carrier bag usage in Scotland has dropped so spectacularly since the 5p charge was introduced. Last year, Northern Ireland saw the number of bags handed out fall by 42.6%, following a previous drop of 71% after a carrier bag charge was introduced in April 2013.
"The clear success of this initiative should encourage ministers to press on with other bold ideas to help make Scotland a zero-waste nation." Wales saw a 5.2% increase last year, but the number of bags handed out in Wales has fallen by 78.2% since 2010, the figures showed.