Sir,

In Wales, we used an estimated 480 million plastic carrier bags last year. These are often only used once and many end up on the streets of Tenby and Pembrokeshire.

The cost of cleaning up bag litter from Welsh streets is £1 million a year and these bags represent a symbol of a throwaway society.

That is why I have announced plans to radically reduce the number of free single use carrier bags used in Wales.

A key part of our approach is a proposal to introduce a charge to encourage people to keep their own bags and re-use them when they are out shopping. Changing the way consumers behave takes time, but it is my firm belief that Wales can achieve this change quicker and more effectively by introducing a charge at the point of sale. The move is part of a wider approach. It is about reducing the amount of energy and resources we use and the levels of waste we produce.

Let's be honest, we are behind the curve on this issue. All over the world action is already being taken against single-use carrier bags. From China, Japan to Iceland, Finland and Malta some form of charge is the norm. In Europe, consumers are used to paying. The Republic of Ireland has seen a 90 per cent reduction after introducing a charge in 2002.

How would the proposed charge work? Well there are two situations where the charge would apply: where something is sold and needs to be taken away and when the goods need to be delivered, for example when buying food over the internet. The Welsh Assembly Government thinks that a charge could be somewhere between 5 -15p, but we are keen to get people's views about what would be the appropriate level. Ideally I want to see the proceeds of the charge go to fund environmental projects within Wales, as do all parties in the Assembly.

I would like to remind readers we can all avoid paying this charge by simply bringing our own bags with us when we go shopping.

To give your views on the Welsh Assembly Government's plans to introduce a charge on singe-use carrier bags, please visit http://www.wales.gov.uk/consultations">www.wales.gov.uk/consultations and go to the Environment and countryside section.

The consultation closes on September 21.

Jane Davidson,

Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing.