Carrier bag charges. What you need to know.
Last summer, we informed you that the governments of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were aiming to reduce the use of single-use carrier bags. And most businesses in Northern Ireland were required by law to charge their customers 5p for every single-use carrier bag, including paper bags.
From Friday, 1 April, the Northern Ireland government is increasing this charge to 25p per single-use bag, and this includes all bags with a retail price of up to £5. Customers may not opt out of paying this charge.
Please note: The bag fee will be included within the total sales value on your invoice, but Just Eat will not charge commission on any bag fees you apply.
You may receive a fine or penalty from your local authority if you do not add the charge on every order that needs single-use bag(s). The charge is not a tax; businesses are being encouraged to donate proceeds to charities and other good causes.
You can check the latest regulations on single-use carrier bags in your region in the table below.
| COUNTRY | BAG FEE | BAGS INCLUDED | NO CHARGE FOR... | GOV LINKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 10p | Single-use plastic carrier bag with handles | Paper bags, sealed packaging, or bags used for unwrapped food. Includes items which are "wholly or partially wrapped" such as chips in paper, or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking. | More info |
| Scotland | 10p | Single-use carrier bag, including both plastic and paper bags. | Sealed packaging or bags used for unpackaged food. That includes items which are "wholly or partially wrapped" such as chips in paper, or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking. | More info |
| Wales | 5p | Single-use carrier bag, including both plastic and paper bags | Sealed packaging or bags used for unpackaged food. That includes items which are "wholly or partially wrapped" such as chips in paper, or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking. | More info |
| Northern Ireland | 25p for each new bag used with a retail price of up to £5 | Single-use carrier bag, including both plastic and paper bags | Sealed packaging, bags used for unpackaged food or bags containing hot food or hot drinks. This includes items which are "wholly or partially wrapped" such as chips in paper, or food supplied in containers which are not secure enough to prevent fluid leaking. | More info |
HOW TO APPLY THE CHARGE?
You can apply the bag fee to your orders in Partner Centre.
- 1. Go to ‘Restaurant settings’
- 2. Open ‘View your details’.
You can apply the carrier bag charge up to a maximum of £1. This is a flat rate for every order, and is based on an average of bags used in all of your orders. So for example, if on average you use one bag per food order, then set your bag fee at 5, 10 or 25p (depending on the above guidance).
IMPORTANT: You may receive a fine or penalty if you do not comply in adding the charge on every order that needs a single-use bag(s).