How will the plastic bag charge affect me?
by Hilary Osborne from on (#P889)
The new charges come into force in England on Monday, but what will it mean for shoppers?
From Monday 5 October shoppers in England will face a charge of at least 5p for some of the carrier bags they use to take home their purchases. The move follows the introduction of similar charges in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Which bags will I be charged for?
The charge applies to "single-use" bags - the thin plastic ones you typically get in the supermarket. The legislation says that for the charge to apply the bag must be unused, plastic, have handles and be 70 microns thick or less. Bags for life are thicker and larger, so retailers do not have to charge for them.
