The Trust has welcomed the introduction of a charge on single-use carrier bags in Scotland. 

From 20 October, shoppers will be charged 5p for bags in an attempt to reduce waste and relieve pressure on landfill. 

Chief Executive of the Trust, Jonny Hughes, said: “The Scottish public has a great love of wildlife. If people understand that reducing bag use will help wildlife, we believe they will be supportive of the change.

“Plastic bags can cause harm to all sorts of animals, such as hedgehogs and small birds, but they are particularly dangerous when they end up in the sea as they can be mistaken for jellyfish or other prey. Marine litter, including plastic bags, kills globally at least a million seabirds and 100,000 animals including whales, dolphins, turtles and seals each year.

“The Scottish Wildlife Trust welcomes the carrier bag charge and believes it will help start a process of much-needed change. We hope that one of the benefits will be greater awareness of the huge importance of Scotland's marine life. Scotland has an amazing 10% of Europe's entire coastline and some of the most biologically productive seas on the planet. Our seas urgently need protection and any step that takes us in the right direction is a welcome one.”