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PLASTIC DRAG

Asda is ditching 5p plastic carrier bags by the end of the year

It means shoppers will have to pay 9p for a Bag for Life once they stop offering single-use ones in branches

ASDA is going to ditch single-use 5p carrier bags by the end of the year in a bid to reduce plastic.

The supermarket is also planning to introduce cheap reusable coffee cups as well as getting rid of plastic cutlery and cups from cafes and offices.

 The supermarket is also planning to ditch plastic cutlery in its cafes and offices
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The supermarket is also planning to ditch plastic cutlery in its cafes and officesCredit: Alamy
PM Theresa May says 5p charge on plastic bags will be extended to all retailers across UK

It has also promised to remove 10 per cent of plastic from its Own Brand packaging over the next 12 months.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Theresa May announced a new war on plastic with a 25-year plan to deal with Britain's throwaway culture.

As part of the plan cornershops will be forced to charge customers for 5p bags.

Since the 5p plastic bag tax was introduced in England in October 2015, nine billion fewer bags have been used.

It also helped supermarkets donate more than £66million to good causes.

The UK's biggest supermarket, Tesco, scrapped 5p bags at the end of August last year.

It means that shoppers now have to buy a Bag for Life costing 10p if they forget to bring a bag with them.

Morrisons started a trial in six of its store last year as it considers whether to also scrap single-use bags.

Asda's president and chief executive, Roger Burnley, said: “I truly believe that when you serve 18 million people each week and have the ability to make a difference to them, you should do it.

“I want Asda’s customers to know that they can trust us to take the lead on the issues that really matter to them. So we have challenged ourselves to look at what more we can do to reduce the amount of plastic in our business, and within our industry as a whole.”

While vintage versions of Tesco carrier bags are being sold for up to £5 on eBay. 

Distressed whale that was put down had 30 plastic bags wedged inside its stomach


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