AROUND 650 million fewer plastic bags were used in Scotland in the past 12 months since the 5p charge came into effect, new figures have shown.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has hailed the "staggering" impact of the charge on reducing the number of bags in circulation and the knock-on effect on waste since the 'carrier bag tax' came into force a year ago.

Bag used has dropped by 80 per cent, taking around around 4,000 tonnes of bags - many of which ended up in landfill - out of the system.

The move has also raised nearly £7 million for charities with supermarkets passing on money raised by the charge to good causes.

Mr Lochhead said: “Previously statistics showed that people in Scotland used more than 800 million new single-use carrier bags every single year – more per head than anywhere else in the UK.

“I thank Scotland for embracing this policy and showing we’re serious about tackling litter, reducing waste and creating a cleaner, greener environment for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s now becoming second nature to shoppers to reuse their carrier bags and hopefully to think more about our impact on the environment. I am confident that Scotland is going to go from strength to strength in its bid to tidy up our streets and beaches, where litter has been a highly visible problem in the past.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, added: “With retailers in Scotland reporting a reduction of 80 per cent in the use of single use carrier bags, it’s evident that Scottish shoppers have embraced a new shopping habit.

"It’s not always easy to change our habits, but Scotland is proving it has this in the bag.

“Many organisations have already agreed to donate money raised by the 5p charge to good causes, by signing up to Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment. Other retailers across the country are now being urged to follow suit.”

Nationwide retailers that signed up to Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment – an agreement to disclose information on the charge, and donations made – say that at least £6.7 million has been collected and handed out so far.

Supermarket chains say that the vast majority of shoppers now bring their own bags to their stores, or reuse plastic ones, rather than collect new carrier bags with each shop.

Morrisons, the Co-operative and Waitrose said that they have recorded a reduction of 80 per cent, with Asda reporting a drop of 90 per cent.

John McNeill, Divisional Managing Director for The Co-operative Food in Scotland, said: “The Co-op Local Fund is distributing more than £750,000 raised through the requirement to charge for single-use carriers issued in our stores in Scotland, and we envisage that approaching 1,000 community groups, projects and good causes will benefit through grants of between £200 - £2,500.

"The money raised will enable organisations across Scotland to make a difference in their community - together, we will reduce, reuse, recycle, and reinvest in our communities.

“The Co-operative is a community retailer with a strong heritage and commitment to the environment and to supporting its local communities. "The Co-op shares the aspiration of reducing the number of single-use carrier bags in use. It is also encouraging shoppers to further reduce their reliance on single-use carriers by donating profits from its reusable bags to good causes too."