Shopper Tracy Gardiner is among the majority who now use reusable bags. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0588717)

AFTER a month of operation, the island-wide effort to cut carrier bag use has been hailed a success.

Checkers has reported a 90-95 per cent reduction in the number issued. The initiative was launched on 6 May and saw anyone wanting normal plastic bags being charged 5p for each one. Sandpiper owns the store chain and chief executive Tony O’Neill said such a large reduction had not been expected.

‘We envisaged it going down 70%. Sales of Bags for Life were so strong we ended up going short. We’ve been ordering a lot more to meet demand. It’s very noticeable when you go into shops just how many people are using recyclable bags.

‘I think the feeling from shoppers has been overwhelmingly supportive. I would say we have had some who voiced their concern, which is obviously their right. We gave away over 15m. carrier bags a year, so this is a phenomenal response by people in the Channel Islands.’