http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/15/plastic-bag-use-rises-for-fourth-year

Plastic bag use rises for fourth year

More than 8bn single use plastic bags given away in UK supermarkets in
2013, figures from waste programme show

Adam Vaughan
The Guardian, Tuesday 15 July 2014 10.01 BST

The number of plastic bags given out in UK supermarkets has risen for
the fourth year running, to 8.3bn bags a year, official figures show.

The rising consumption comes ahead of a 5p charge in England that will
be introduced in 2015 after the general election, and a 5p charge in
Scotland due to come into force this autumn.

Retailers in Wales reported reductions in such "single use" bags of up
to 96% following the successful implementation of a 5p charge there in
2011 that goes to charities including Keep Wales Tidy and the RSPB.

Data published on Tuesday by the government's waste programme, Wrap,
shows an increase of 3% in the number of bags given away at supermarkets
between 2012 and 2013.