Carrier bag levy
Retailers in Northern Ireland must by law to charge a levy for all new carrier bags dispensed. Money from the levy is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and is used within Northern Ireland to fund environmental projects.
New levy since 1 April 2022
Since 1 April 2022, the levy is 25p. This is the minimum amount that retailers can charge. Retailers set the price of their bags which means that prices may vary. However, the levy charge is set at 25p and retailers will pay only the levy amount to DAERA.
The levy was first introduced in 2013 to help improve the environment by encouraging the reuse of carrier bags, and by preventing the unnecessary buying of bags.
Retailer registration
If you are a registered retailer and have an account, you will be able to log in at the following link. If you are not yet registered, you'll find information to help you register and contact details for the carrier bag levy team.
When you pay for carrier bags
You pay a levy on all new carrier bags - so if you buy a new carrier bag from a retailer, the levy will be included. The 25p levy applies to all new carrier bags with a retail price of £5 or less. This is regardless of the material used and whether they are single use or reusable.
The levy applies to carrier bags of all materials - it's not just plastic bags. Carrier bags of every material have an environmental impact.
The levy applies to carrier bags when you buy goods including:
- groceries, clothing, beauty items and gifts
- goods delivered or collected from premises (click and collect) where carrier bags are used
No retailers are exempt
No retailers are exempt but some types of bags are exempt and some retailers only supply these bags.
Some retailers supply several different types of bags, so you will pay the levy for some carrier bags but not for carrier bags which are in exempt categories.
Since 1 April 2022, the levy does not apply when carrier bags:
- only contain items such as unpackaged food, seeds and bulbs, axes, knives or razor blades, goods contaminated by soil and some medicinal products
- are used only to contain packaged uncooked meat or fish, and the bags have maximum dimensions of 205 mm (width) x 125 mm (gusset) x 458 mm (height inclusive of handles)
- contain take-away hot food and hot drinks
- are sealed transit bags at restricted areas in airports
- are specialist bags, such as mail order and courier bags
- bags made of any material, with maximum dimension of 125mm (width) x 155mm (height) and a maximum gusset of 50mm
- are specialist bags, such as mail order and courier bags
- when used for live aquatic animals
- are supplied for free to replace worn out bags for life
- are carrier bags with a retail price of more than £5
- contain items or appliances supplied under a prescription
- are reused after already having had the levy applied
How the money is used
The money made from the carrier bag levy are used to deliver local projects to both enhance and improve the environment.
The Environment Fund is one of the ways through which the money from the carrier bag levy has been used to allow not-for-profit organisations and councils to deliver key environmental priorities across Northern Ireland.
Through funding these projects, the carrier bag levy helps to sustain, improve and enrich the natural environment in Northern Ireland.
Reusing bags
You should only use clean bags in a good condition. Clean your reusable bags often. Bags which are torn or contaminated with food should be recycled at carrier bag recycling points.
Legislation
- Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations (NI) 2022
- Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2020
- Carrier Bags Act (Northern Ireland) 2014
- Single Use Carrier Bags Charge Regulations (NI) 2013