Tesco could be set to scrap 5p plastic bags and forgetful shoppers will have to buy bags for life instead.
The UK’s biggest supermarket is running a trial in three stores for the next 10 weeks which will see single use carrier bags banned.
It wants to see how shoppers in its Dundee, Aberdeen and Norwich stores get on without single use 5p bags.
If anyone forgets to bring a bag for their shopping they will have to pay for an 8p or 10p bag for life instead.
If the trial is successful, it will be rolled out nationwide and it could cause other supermarkets to do the same.
Since the law changed in October 2015, larger retailers have had to charge customers for plastic bags and in October of last year, Tesco revealed that it had given out 1.5 billion fewer single-use bags since the rule change.
It also said that it has seen a 57 per cent increase in the number of customers requesting “bagless” deliveries.
Money raised from the sale of the 5p plastic bag goes to community groups involved in green projects and Tesco has donated £72 million so far.
The supermarket has confirmed that these donations would continue.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are carrying out a short trial in a few stores to look at the impact on bag usage if we remove single use carrier bags.
“In these stores customers who need a bag can still buy a bag for life which they can reuse.”
We will have to await the results of the trial to find out if this will be rolled out nationwide and affect us here in Swindon.
