Morrisons ditches 5p bags

MORRISONS has joined the other ‘big four’ supermarkets in ceasing to offer 5p throwaway plastic bags.

The move will take approximately 190million bags out of circulation each year.

It comes after Asda last week said it would stop selling the 5p bags, following earlier decisions by Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

The decision is a victory for the Daily Mail’s ten-year campaign to highlight the dangers of plastic pollution.

The introduction of the 5p bag levy in Scotland in October 2014 has reduced the number of single use bags handed out by retail chains by more than 80 per cent – more than 650 million fewer every year.

Morrisons said it would begin phasing out the 5p bags in March, adding: ‘We are listening to customers and they’re telling us they want to reduce the amount of plastic getting out into the environment.’

Friends of the Earth is today launching its ‘Plastic Free Friday’ campaign, urging people to live without plastic every Friday. Keep Britain Tidy is also trying to recruit 400,000 volunteers to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, a mass litter pick from March 2 to 4.