Stores to tackle plastic bag use

There is a 25% reduction target for plastic bags

Northern Ireland shops are launching a new campaign to reduce the number of plastic bags used by customers.

The move is a joint initiative involving representatives from all areas of the retail sector across the UK.

The DoE said the 25% reduction target was equivalent to taking 18,000 cars off the road for a year.

NI Environment Minister David Cairns said: "Carrier bags are a very visible form of unsightly litter."

He added: "I welcome the efforts by shops to reduce the numbers of carrier bags in circulation.

"I would also encourage shoppers to play their part and do all they can to reduce, reuse and recycle carrier bags."

A 25% reduction would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 58,500 tonnes a year, said the DoE.

It will require the government's support in encouraging customers to reduce, re-use, recycle and take an improved approach to household waste management Bryan Gray NIIRTA

Retailers aim to reduce the environmental impact of bags by encouraging customers to use less of them, working with government in order to reduce the impact of each carrier bag through manufacture and enable the recycling of more carrier bags.

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has welcomed the announcement

Bryan Gray of NIIRTA said staff of stores across Northern Ireland had been trained to ask customers if they really needed a plastic bag.

"Retailers are already rewarding re-use, promoting 'bags for life', and using and developing alternative materials," he said.

"However, we are aware of our responsibilities and want to take that further.

"Twenty-five percent is an ambitious target for the industry as a whole. It will require the government's support in encouraging customers to reduce, re-use, recycle and take an improved approach to household waste management."