People in Northern Ireland are being encouraged to use fewer plastic bags in an attempt to tackle the problem of waste.

The initative aims to cut down on the 230 million plastic bags used in Northern Ireland every year.

Most of the major supermarkets have signed up to a retail charter which was launched by Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt on Friday.

Retailers promoted such measures as utilising re-usable biodegradable bags as part of the Wake up to Waste Retail Partnership.

Those spearheading the project include Mace, Marks & Spencer, Musgrave SuperValu-Centra, Safeway, Tesco, Spar, VG and Vivo.

Dermot Nesbitt: "We need an overall cultural shift in society"

Speaking at the launch of the initiative at Stormont, Mr Nesbitt said he had been delighted by the response to the initiative.

"I am confident (it) will make a significant contribution to the Wake Up To Waste Campaign aimed at getting everyone to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and, in particular, to reduce plastic bag waste," he said.

"We need an overall cultural shift in society regarding our attitude to waste and, as retailers are at the heart of every community, we feel this will be a very effective partnership for communicating the waste minimisation message."

Mr Nesbitt said he was still investigating the feasibility of a plastic bag levy to underpin the charter.

Consumers in the Republic of Ireland pay a tax of 15 cents per bag on all plastic bags.

Message

That tax cut their use by more than 90% and raised millions of euro in revenue since it was introduced earlier this year, the government said.

Mr Nesbitt said: "I feel that it is vital, first and foremost, to impress upon the public the need to, and benefits of, changing our ways to reduce waste and to put in place the infrastructure for alternatives to disposable plastic bags.

"My message to the general public though is simple. Keep reusing your shopping bags. Use the 'bags for life'."

The charter is part of the Retail Partnership Initiative, which has been set up by Mr Nesbitt and officials from the Environment and Heritage Service.

Retailers' initiatives include sourcing biodegradable bags to offering 'bags for life' and giving refunds on bags.