WELSH retailers have been reminded that a compulsory minimum 5p charge on plastic bags will come into force later this year.

Outlets across the principality will this week be sent an information pack providing details of the new scheme - which is the first of its kind in Britain.

Welsh Assembly government ministers say they hope the charge will see people reuse their plastic bags on shopping trips more often - helping the environment as well as the economy.

It is estimated that cleaning up plastic bags costs the taxpayer around £1 million a year.

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said about 23,540 information packs will start being sent out to Welsh businesses.

She said: "There is no doubt in my mind that such a reduction is needed. In Wales during 2009 we took home on average 273 carrier bags per household from the major supermarkets alone.

"Add to this the number of bags we pick up when shopping on the high street or at smaller stores and you are left with an even higher figure.

"While I know reducing our use of single use carrier bags is not going to solve all our environmental problems the charge delivers an important message about the need for us to live much more sustainable lives.’’ The charge will come to force on October 1, and will only be applied to "single-use’’ carrier bags - an estimated 480 million of which per year are used in Wales.

The Assembly government said retailers may charge more than the 5p-per-bag minumum if they want to.

Ms Davidson also said the Assembly government had worked closely with the British Retail Consortium, Federation of Small Business and CBI in introducing the charge - which had been delayed by six months to accommodate the requests of retailers.

She added: "This charge has always been popular with the public and I am certain that it will help us to significantly reduce the number of carrier bags given out in Wales.

"The idea of the charge is not to make people pay for carrier bags. Rather it is to encourage shoppers to make use of the bags they already have.

"No one has to pay the charge - it can be simply avoided if we remember to carry bags with us when we do our shopping.’’