Bag tax to apply to Northern Ireland from 2013

A 5p tax on single-use carrier bags is to be introduced into Northern Ireland from April 2013.

The levy will double to 10p in 2014, by which times customers will have had time to adjust to the concept, says Environment Minister Alex Attwood. A 10p levy on the more durable multi-use shopping bags will also be brought in by 2014.

Commenting today, Attwood said: "There is no doubt that carrier bags are a scourge on the environment.

"Evidence from other countries demonstrates that a bag levy is a simple and effective means to reduce substantially the negative environmental impact of carrier bag consumption. A proposed 10 pence levy on single use carrier bags and lower-cost reusable carrier bags can bring about significant environmental improvement.”

Northern Ireland is the second region in the UK to introduce such a tax, with Wales taking the lead in October last year.

A similar levy in effect in the Republic of Ireland has seen consumption of plastic bags fall by 90% since it was introduced in 2002, according to The BBC, and has raised over 173 million euros for the exchequer.