Increase in plastic bag charge in Scotland takes effect on 1 April  

The minimum price of a single use plastic carrier bag in Scotland is set to increase from 5p to 10p from 1 April.

Retailers with more than 10 employees must keep records on the number of bags sold in the business, with a requirement of keeping these records for a minimum of five years.

The charge will increase to 10p also in England but the Defra has delayed the implementation from the previously expected 30 April. The department is expected to confirm the new date shortly.

In England, the plastic bag charge will be extended to all retailers for the first time. The current 5p charge applies to retailers employing over 250 people.

All businesses in Scotland and Wales were already required to charge.

The Scottish government has temporarily suspended charging for single-use carrier bags in some circumstances in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Retailers do not have to charge for a single-use carrier bag if they’re being used for:

• grocery deliveries to your home (no matter how you placed the order)
• collecting groceries you ordered ahead of time (such as ‘click and collect’ services in supermarkets)
• collection and delivery of takeaway food

Retailers in Scotland can access resources on the carrier bag charge here.