The Scotsman Cartoon: Carrier bag tax

Legislation meaning shoppers must pay for carrier bags was introduced yesterday.

Illustration: Iain Green

MSPs overwhelmingly backed the move in a vote at Holyrood earlier this year.

Environmental campaigners welcomed the new legislation, saying it will prevent millions of bags from ending up in landfill.

The Scottish Government said councils picked up around 7.4 million bags a year. The charge has been introduced to reduce the number that become litter.

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