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Confusion Over 'Complicated' Plastic Bag Law

England has become the last nation in the UK to introduce charges for plastic bags, in a bid to protect wildlife and reduce littering on the streets.

From today, shoppers at all big stores will need to pay 5p for every bag provided at the tills - and it's hoped most consumers will remember to bring their own.

Last year, more than 7.6 billion plastic bags were handed out by major supermarkets alone - the equivalent of 140 per person.

Critics have claimed the charges are too complicated, and could lead to confusion and longer queues at the tills.

The Government has also faced criticism from environmental campaigners, who say it is wrong that smaller shops have been exempted from the policy.

:: Find out how the new bag changes affect you

Only retailers that employ more than 250 full-time workers will need to begin charging their customers, and paper bags can continue to be handed out for free.

In Wales, where a more comprehensive bag-charging policy has been enforced, the number of single-use carrier bags handed out by stores fell by 79% in three years.

Westminster hopes England's plastic bag charge will see use fall by as much as 80% in supermarkets, and 50% elsewhere on the high street.

It is also estimated that the fee will slash litter clean-up costs by £60m, while simultaneously generating £730m for good causes.

Most shoppers appear to be behind the policy, with one poll suggesting that 62% of shoppers in England believe the 5p charge is reasonable.

The Break The Bag Habit group, who conducted the survey, also discovered that 51% of consumers would support a scheme which applied to all retailers irrespective of their size.

Nine in 10 Welsh retailers have said the plastic bag charge hasn't impacted their trade.

England's Environment Minister, Rory Stewart, said: "We're all guilty of taking a carrier bag from a supermarket, storing it somewhere safe at home with the intention of using it again, then forgetting to take it with us next time we go to the shops.

"Simple changes to our shopping routines, such as taking our own bags with us or using more bags for life, can make a huge difference in reducing the amount of plastic in circulation – meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country."