Shoppers in Northern Ireland will be charged for plastic bags from today.

The 5p cost is aimed at improving the country's green credentials and helping reduce pollution.

It's the second part of the UK to impose the measure after Wales.

The Republic introduced similar charges in 2002, over ten years ago.

People in Northern Ireland use 250 million bags a year, 140 per person.

The North's Department of the Environment says the proceeds of the levy will be used to fund environmental programmes and activities.

ROI rules differ

Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Alex Atwood, is behind the move - which will see shoppers charged a minimum of 5 pence for a single use carrier bag, including plastic, paper and other natural materials. Other, more durable or long life bags will cost more.

Ireland's tax was introduced in 2002 at 15 cent per bag, or nearly 13 pence sterling. The Republic's charge has since increased to 31 cent in 2006.

Social costs

Minister Alex Atwood says the introduction of charges is needed to offset the 'social costs' of using shopping bags, such as the CO2 emissions and air and water pollution associated with the production and transportation of carrier bags, as well as the costs of removing discarded bags from public spaces. 

Experience elsewhere has shown that a carrier bag levy can reduce bag circulation by 80% or more. 

Stormont plans to increase the levy to 10 pence from April 2014 and extend it to the cheaper types of reusable bags.