Aldi is ditching 5p carrier bags by the end of the year

ALDI is the latest supermarket to pledge to get rid of the 5p carrier bags by the end of the year in a bid to reduce plastic waste.

But customers who forget to bring their own bags will still be able to buy a reusable plastic bag for 9p.

The budget supermarket is following in the steps of Tesco, Morrisons and Asda who have also vowed to ditch the carriers.

Aldi is also looking into the possibility of rolling out a deposit return scheme in stores, where shoppers will get cash back for returning plastic bottles.

The supermarket's support for the UK Plastics Pact by WRAP - an anti-plastic organisation - is in line with Sky's which is raising awareness of how plastics and other pollution is damaging marine wildlife and ecosystems.

Matthew Barnes, CEO at Aldi, said that the supermarket has a responsibility to reduce waste, "particularly around unnecessary packaging."

He said: "While we cannot do this alone - and call on others to collaborate with us and others to drive change industry-wide - we are committed to doing all we can to lead the way and to bring our customers on this journey with us."

Aldi has always charged for single-use bags, and since last year it has used plastic recycled from its back-of-store waste to make its reusable carrier bags.

Last December it removed plastic stems from its cotton buds, and banned all microbeads and microplastics from products in 2015.

Iceland has also pledged to stop using plastic by 2023 on its own-brand products and has also released a range of microwave ready meals that come in paper packaging.

Supermarkets have been taking action following Prime Minister Theresa May's pledged to eliminate synthetic packaging altogether and introduce plastic-free aisles in supermarkets.

But as the plastic bags slowly disappear from stores, vintage versions of Tesco carrier bags are being sold for up to £5 on eBay. 

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.