Shoppers will have to remember to take their bags before they head out to the shops as Wales becomes the first UK country to introduce a charge for single use carrier bags
From October 1, all retailers will charge 5p per single-use carrier bag. A single-use carrier bag is a bag which is not intended to be re-used and can be made of plastic, paper or plant-based materials such as starch.
Some bags will be exempt from the charges including bags made from fabric, such as hemp and cotton, wicker and heavy duty plastic. Some of the items that the charge will not apply to are; prescription medicine bags, food items that are unwrapped ie loose fruit and vegetables, or partly unwrapped foods like takeaway fries, live aquatic creatures in water, loose seeds and bulbs and packaged uncooked fish or meat.
The money raised by the charge will not be going to the Welsh Government but will be passed on to good causes.
As a result of the charge, the Government expects to see a 90% reduction in the number of bags distributed in Wales, and for retailers to pass on up to £3 million to environmental and other projects.
Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert said: “There is no reason that these charges have to hit the pockets of shoppers. Just remember to bring your own carrier bags to the supermarket and you will not only save yourself money but you will be doing your bit for the environment.
“We all have a role to play in protecting the environment and small lifestyle changes like this can make a big difference to our planet.”
Workers from Caerphilly County Borough Council will be out and about from Monday to hand out free re-usable bags.
The council’s Tidy Towns team will be giving out ‘bags for life’ to shoppers at the following locations during lunch time.
Monday October 3
Blackwood Shopping Precinct (The Marketplace)
Tuesday October 4
Castle Court shopping centre, Caerphily
Thursday October 6
The new Tesco store in Risca