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100 million plastic bags sold by Northern Ireland retailers in past year

A total of 100 million plastic bags were sold by retailers in Northern Ireland in the past year, four years after a 5p levy was introduced
A total of 100 million plastic bags were sold by retailers in Northern Ireland in the past year, four years after a 5p levy was introduced A total of 100 million plastic bags were sold by retailers in Northern Ireland in the past year, four years after a 5p levy was introduced
By Marie Louise McConville

ALMOST 100 million plastic bags were sold by retailers in Northern Ireland in the past year, four years after a 5p levy was introduced.

Between April 2016 and March this year, 99.9 million bags were sold in the north, raising £5 million.

This was compared to the 101 million bags sold the previous year, when £5.2m was raised.

The figure for 2016/17 is considerably lower that the 300 million plastic bags which were sold each year in Northern Ireland before the introduction of the levy.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, funds raised are reinvested in environmental projects.

During the first year, 2013-2014, 84.5 million bags were sold. The following year, 2014-2015, 91.5 million bags were sold. This increased to 101 million bags in 2015-2016.