SHOPPERS in North Ayrshire are being urged to recycle their carrier bags and avoid being charged for new ones.

As of this month residents will be charged a minimum of 5p for single-use carrier bags under new laws. Under Scottish Government regulations coming into effect on October 20, all retailers in Scotland will charge a mandatory fee of at least 5p for each new single use carrier bag given to shoppers.

The charge will apply whether the bag is made of plastic, paper, biodegradable material or ‘bio plastic’.

The Scottish Government has introduced the mandatory charge to reduce the number of bags that could become litter.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Councillor Tony Gurney said: “It is important to remember that this charge doesn’t just apply at supermarkets – it applies everywhere.

“I would urge you to remember your bags whenever you go shopping, this will save you at least 5p a bag and at the same time help to prevent the number of shopping bags that become litter.

“Although we are the third highest performing council in Scotland for recycling, we still spend around £2.5m per year on landfill tax. It is hoped that this new legislation will help to reduce this cost.” Last year, shoppers at Scotland’s main supermarket chains used 800 million new single-use shopping bags, which is more per head than the rest of the UK.

Similar changes have been introduced in Wales and Northern Ireland, which have since seen drops in new bag use of around 80 percent and 70 percent respectively, a 5p fee is being considered in England.

For more information visit www.greenerscotland.org.