Roche signals hike in plastic bag levy this year

SHOPPERS could be paying double for their plastic carrier bags later this year after Environment Minister Dick Roche signalled a hike in the 15 cent levy.

Mr Roche wants to increase the bag tax to 19c at least to halt the rising number of shoppers asking for carriers at the check-out.

The environmental tax, introduced in 2002, initially helped slash the number of bags being handed out by stores but rising numbers of carriers are now being used.