BRITISH shoppers get through eight billion plastic bags a year, the equivalent of 133 per person.

In Ireland supermarkets were forced, at the beginning of March, to pay 15c (9p) tax on all new plastic bags in a bid to curb litter problems. Within a couple of months, shoppers switched to re-using carrier bags and Superquinn, one of the biggest chains, said the number of bags distributed had fallen by 97.5 per cent.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher is now said to be interested in the scheme for the UK as the Environment Department says it is concerned about the number of plastic bags routinely handed out in supermarkets.

Coun Tim O'Kane, portfolio holder at Hyndburn Borough Council for environment and cleansing, said: "There is a strong view on this in Ireland where they are now charging for bags, and we should also be encouraging more people to re-use plastic bags.

"One of problems is that they are not biodegradable, so this is one of the problem areas where recycling is concerned, although people are now recycling more paper, wood and cans.

"Shoppers should be charged for carrier bags in order to encourage recycling."

Referring the recent environmental conference in South Africa, he added: "If the Johannesburg Summit is to mean anything then there has to be pro-active steps taken by supermarkets."

And he said: "Enforcing financial penalties is one of the best ways of making people stop and think and if people have a financial incentive then almost invariably they do start recycling."