Plastic bag tax to double in Ireland
New laws to be published next month will see Ireland double the tax on plastics bags from 22€ cents to 44€ cents on single use carriers.
In March 2002, Ireland was first country to introduce a levy on carrier bags with a 15€ cents tax. More than 120m € has been generated in tax revenue from the tax.
The charge is to be doubled to give a "sufficient deterrent" to shoppers, The Irish Department of the Environment said, in an attempt to get them to bring their own carriers to shops and supermarkets.
John Gormley, Environment Minister of the Green Party said "I am encouraged somewhat by previous environmental taxes that we introduced such as the plastic bag levy which initially met with certain resistance. We're putting it up this year to 44 cent and yet it is hugely popular."
The news follows confirmation that the Welsh Assembly Government plan to introduce their own 15p bag tax which was announced earlier this week.
