A project to encourage shoppers to re-use their plastic supermarket bags

A project to encourage shoppers to re-use their plastic supermarket bags is to receive funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The three-month pilot project will be launched later this year by the Wales Environment Trust and Asda at its 14 superstores across Wales. It will be the first of its kind to be operated in the UK and will inform the debate on how best to combat the problems caused by the single-use carrier bags. Britons get through an estimated eight billion of the polyethylene shopping bags each year – equivalent to 133 per person.

Welsh Assembly Government, Minister for Environment Sue Essex commented: "I know that Minister of State at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Meacher, is aware of the potential UK-wide applications of the findings of this project. In particular it will help inform discussion about any possible environmental taxation measures similar to those in place in the Republic of Ireland. "He has given his support in principle to the project but I appreciate that he will need to await the DEFRA spending review later this month before making any final decisions are made."