Retail giant Marks & Spencers is introducing a 5p charge for plastic carrier bags at its Derry stores.
The chain, which has stores on the Crescent Link and the Foyleside Centre, is bringing the charge in on Tuesday, May 6, to help improve its environmental record.
It is hoped the charge will encourage customers bring their own bags to the shop inst
ead of using the store ones each time they shop.
They also want to raise a significant amount of money for environmental projects. Profits generated from the charge will go to environmental charity, Groundwork, and be used to create or improve 'greener living spaces' such as parks, play areas and gardens in neighbourhoods around Northern Ireland. It is expected that around 40 neighbourhoods will benefit in the next twelve months.
The move was welcomed by Foyle MP.,Mark Durkan. He said: "It is frustrating that the Big Four major supermarket retailers – Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's – continue to give away free plastic bags.
"Therefore, I would now call on the Big Four and other major retailers to follow the example set by Marks & Spencer and Debenhams by introducing a five pence charge on single-use plastic bags to encourage a switch to greener alternatives such as cotton, hemp and jute carriers or re-usable `bags for life'."
The full article contains 220 words and appears in Journal Friday DER Edition newspaper.
