Ireland raises tax on plastic bags

Ireland is to increase a tax on plastic shopping bags that has cut their use by more than 90% since its launch five years ago.

The levy – which will rise to 22 euro cents from 15 euro cents per bag from July 1 – cut the amount of plastic bag litter by 95% after people switched to reusable bags, said Environment Minister Dick Roche.

The number of bags used by shoppers fell to as low 21 per head each year, compared to 328 before the tax, he said. The number crept up to 30 in 2006, prompting the tax rise.

In New Zealand, where we use 800,000,000 plastic bags a year, retailers Progressive Enterprises, Foodstuffs and The Warehouse have pledged to reduce plastic bag usage by 20% by 2008.