Plastic bag levy success hailed

The Department of the Environment has said the 15c plastic bag levy that was introduced early this year raised more than €9 million for the Exchequer during its first four months in operation.

The levy also reduced the use of plastic bags by 90% in the same period.

Junior Minister, Pat Gallagher, told a SIPTU conference in Derry the money would be used to fund new waste management and other environmental initiatives.