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Plastic bags in Gordon Brown's environmental sights

29/02/2008

Gordon Brown says the government is "ready" to take steps to reduce plastic carrier bag usage in Britain.

Writing in the Daily Mail newspaper today, the prime minister says he wants to eliminate single-use plastic bags altogether in a bid to improve the country's environmental credentials.

"The government is ready to do what it can to encourage a change in the way we use these bags," he said.

Ministers are reportedly considering an amendment to the climate change bill, currently going through parliament, which could set legally-binding targets on banning bags.

It is expected the government will wait and see if the retail sector acts voluntarily to curb single-use plastic bags, however.

Marks and Spencer recently announced it will begin charging for its bags while Ikea's policies have seen it cut plastic bag use by 95 per cent.