Shoppers in Northern Ireland will be charged for reusable bags from April 2014

Northern Ireland environment minister Alex Attwood announced that a 5p charge on single use carrier bags will be introduced in April 2013. This will increase to 10p in April 2014. There will be no charge on reusable bags in April 2013.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 ten pence levy on single use carrier bags and lower cost reusable carrier bags can bring about significant environmental improvement” (PackagingNews, 1 February 2012).