Over five million fewer carrier bags given out by NI retailers in last year
Some 5.3 million fewer carrier bags were dispensed by retailers in the last year.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the 2023-2024 figure is 8.1% lower than in previous years.
The proceeds of the levy for 2023-2024 totalled £13.1 million.
The figures relate to the number of carrier bags dispensed by 2,347 Northern Ireland retailers (not the number of actual premises) between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024, as notified to the Department by 30th June 2024.
Carrier Bags Charge Regulations were extended on 1st April 2022, so that the levy is now 25 pence and applies to all new carrier bags with a retail price of five pounds or less. In its 11th year of operation, 59.7 million carrier bags were dispensed by retailers under the carrier bag levy in Northern Ireland.
In their breakdown of figures, DAERA revealed that the number of lower rate bags dispensed in 2023-2024 (costing only the 25 pence) was 21.2 million, 26.2% lower than 2022-2023. The number of upper rate bags dispensed (those costing more than the 25 pence levy and up to £5) was 38.5 million, 6.2% higher than 2022-2023.
In 2023-2024, 36% of the bags dispensed were lower rate compared to 64% of higher rate bags.
In 2023-2024 retailers in Northern Ireland dispensed 15.3 million bags during quarter 1 (April to June 2023), 14.9 million during quarter 2 (July to September 2023) and 16.4 million during quarter 3 (October to December 2023). The number of bags dispensed during quarter 4 (January to March 2024) reduced to 13.0 million (Table 1).
The trend line for total bags is similar to 2022/23 with a defined peak in bags dispensed under the levy in quarter 3 (October to December), coinciding with the peak Christmas shopping period. Lower rate bags were greater than higher rate bags for only one quarter (quarter 1 2022/23) with an overall downward trend from 9.5 million bags dispensed in quarter 1 2022/23 to 4.1 million bags in quarter 4 2023/24. From quarter 2 2022/23 there has been a greater number of higher rate bags dispensed than lower rate bags.
Final results from the Continuous Household Survey environmental module show that 78% of respondents in the 2023/24 survey were reported to be very/fairly concerned about environmental issues. This is similar to the 80% of respondents concerned about the environment in 2022/23.
The survey also showed that most respondents selected that they had reused, recycled and disposed of waste products appropriately which would include the reusing of carrier bags. Eight questions regarding carrier bags were introduced to the Continuous Household Survey in 2020/21. Household respondents were asked how much they paid for the last carrier bag they bought. The 2023/24 results show that 48% responded that they did not buy a carrier bag, whilst 27% bought bags costing 25 pence. A further 16% bought bags costing 26 pence to 50 pence.
