NI plastic bag charge will lead to 10 new jobs in Derry

It’s been confirmed that the plastic bag levy being introduced in the North next year will lead to the creation of 10 new jobs in Derry.
Stormont Minister Alex Atwood has confirmed the team which will implement the charge will be based in the city.
The new regulations, which come into force in April 2013, will require sellers to charge their customers a 5p levy for a broad range of single use carrier bags, not just those made of plastic. The money will then be paid to the Department of the Environment.
The 10 strong team to be based in Derry will be tasked with ensuring that sellers implement the charge properly, as well as collecting the levy and ensuring it goes to the department.
Retailers will be required to register as sellers of carrier bags, with the charge to be collected from them and
paid into Stormont every three months.
Confirming the Derry jobs, Minister Alex Atwood said he was under pressure to contract out the management of the plastic bag charge to the private sector, but he resisted and prevailed.