Data from the Environment Department (Defra) shows the main retailers sold 226 million single-use bags in the past financial year, 322 million fewer than in 2018/19.
This is a drop of 59 per cent year on year, with the average shopper buying four bags compared to 10 last year and a whopping 140 in 2014.
An estimated 7.6 billion bags a year were handed out by the leading supermarkets before the 5p charge was introduced in 2015. All retailers with more than 250 employees must apply the charge to their plastic bags, with many small businesses also reporting voluntarily. Combined, approximately 564 million bags were sold in the latest financial year, compared to 1.11 billion in 2018/19.
The Government has consulted on extending the charge to all businesses and increasing the minimum charge for single-use bags to 10p. The response to the consultation is expected to be published “in due course”.
George Eustice, environment secretary, said: “It is so encouraging...