From 8 April 2013 carrier bag levy in Northern Ireland

Environment Minister Alex Attwood says that from 8 April 2013 retailers and businesses will have to charge at least 5p levy for each new single use carrier bag they supply to customers. And his department has put together a short video to explain which bags will attract the charge, which won't and to emphasise that it is 5p on each bag rather than each time someone shops.
The 5p charge doesn't just apply to plastic bags – it also covers single use bags made from other natural materials. Even "biodegradable" bags have a negative environmental impact. At the moment around 250 million carrier bags are used each year in Northern Ireland (News Item Belfast Telegraph, 27 March 2013).