5p carrier bag charge set to be extended to all shops

THE 5p charge for carrier bags is set to be extended to all shops under government plans.

In a bid to tackle "throwaway culture", small retailers currently exempt from the levy - which was brought in back in 2015 - are set to introduce the charge.

Theresa May and environment secretary Michael Gove will set out plans to expand the charge in a 25-year Environment Plan being published later this week.

Michael Gove told colleagues the introduction of the 5p charge on single-use plastic bags had contributed to a reduction of nearly 90 per cent in their use.