As well as earning millions from the levy of around 10p a bag, the number of bags issued by the 3000 retailers involved in the scheme has fallen by 90%. “The reduction has been immediate and the positive visual impact on the environment is plain to see,” adds Cullen. Before the levy, Ireland was estimated to be using over a billion plastic bags a year.
Earlier this year Environment Minister Michael Meacher told the Guardian he was in favour of introducing a similar scheme in Britain, where eight billion bags are issued each year (see related story).