Supermarkets to halve free plastic bags

SUPERMARKETS today promised to slash the number of plastic bags they hand out to escape having to impose a charge on them.

Waitrose, Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, the Co-Op, and Somerfield agreed to halve the number of single-use free plastic bags they give out -compared with the 13 billion of 2006 - by spring next year.

The pledge came as ministers and London boroughs threatened to force retailers to charge for bags. Environment minister Jane Kennedy hailed it as a "bold commitment". But it waters down ministers' goal of a 70 per cent reduction. Last year, one billion fewer bags were handed out.