Tesco to scrap 5p plastic bags — so forgetful shoppers will have to buy more expensive ‘bags for life’ instead
Single-use carrier bags could be banned by UK's biggest supermarket as it starts 10-week trial in three stores
TESCO is planning to scrap plastic 5p bags and it means forgetful shoppers will have to pay for a bag for life instead.
The UK's biggest supermarket is running a trial in three stores for the next 10 weeks.
It wants to see how shoppers in its Dundee, Aberdeen and Norwich stores get on without "single-use" 5p bags.
If anyone forgets to bring a bag for their shopping they will have to pay for an 8p or 10p bag for life instead.
If successful the trial will be rolled out nationwide and it could cause other supermarkets to do the same.
Since the law changed in October 2015, larger retailers have had to charge customers for plastic bags.
Usage of single-use carrier bags has dropped by more than 85 per cent, according to government figures.
In October, Tesco revealed that it had given out 1.5 billion fewer single-use bags since the rule change.
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It also said that it has seen a 57 per cent increase in the number of customers requesting "bagless" deliveries.
Money raised from the sale of the 5p plastic bag goes to community groups involved in green projects and Tesco has donated £72 million so far.
The retailer confirmed that these donations would continue.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are carrying out a short trial in a few stores to look at the impact on bag usage if we remove single use carrier bags.
"In these stores customers who need a bag can still buy a bag for life which they can reuse.”
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