By law all large businesses in England will charge 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags. This is already in force in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The idea is to encourage retailers and consumers to be less wasteful. Compared with bags made from materials such as paper plastic bags take longer to degrade.
From each 5p the Treasury will receive 0.83p in VAT, the retailer will be allowed to take reasonable costs but not to include the cost of the bag itself. The stores will then be encouraged to donate the remaining proceeds from the bags to go to local and National good causes. In some stores the customer will be able to vote where the money goes locally. You will be able to vote for your favourite local charity or community group.
