Plastic bag charge to save 1.2 million tonnes of emissions

A plastic bag charge set to be introduced in England next month will save the country 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂e over the next ten years, according to DEFRA.

The department says the move will also save the economy £60m in litter clean-up costs and £13m worth of carbon savings.

Large businesses in England – those with more than 250 employees – will be required to charge their customers 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags (SUPCB) from 5 October.