The impact of the 2002 tax has been weakening

The Irish government is planning to raise its tax on plastic bags in an effort to nip signs of their increasing use in the bud. Local sources believe that a review of the levy’s effectiveness will lead to an increase of at least 25% from its current level of 15c. The current regulations restrict the environment minister Dick Roche from raising the figure by more than 4c but he is expected to seek powers from the Irish legislature to widen his scope to lift the figure.

The initial impact of the levy’s introduction in 2002 has waned and shoppers’ expenditure on bags has been steadily increasing. Roche told the Irish press that he is determined to stop plastic bag use “creeping back in,” and cited the way fast food outlets have been bending the rules. A spokesman at the Irish Environmental Ministry told PRW.com today that the minister hopes to have an increase in place by the end of the summer.