UK Northern Ireland and Wales: Less carrier bags since levy

Northern Ireland carrier bag statistics reveal that the 5p levy on carrier bags has delivered a 69.5% reduction in bags being used since its introduction in April 2013. The scope of the Carrier Bag Levy was extended in January 2015 to include all carrier bags, with a retail price of less than 20 pence.
In Wales the distribution of single-use carrier bags has declined by an estimated 71% since 2011 when a minimum five-pence per bag charge was first assessed. A recently published report says 74% of consumers now support the carrier bag charges as opposed to only 61% in 2011 and that for 87% of retailers the charge had made either a positive or neutral impact on their business.
Click here for a press release by the Northern Ireland government.
Click here for more statistics for Northern Ireland.
Click here for a news release by the Welsh Government.
Click here for the report about carrier bags in Wales (399 kB).
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