New compostable carrier bags are to be offered to Slough shoppers as a supermarket chain aims to replace 60 million single-use plastic bags across the country.

Shoppers at the Co-op food across the town will be amongst the first shoppers to be offered the 5p compostable bags and will replace the traditional plastic bags.

The bags can be turned into peat-free compost along with the household food waste and are approved for home composting. The bio-degradable bags will also double up as food waste caddy-liners and are initially available to communities in which the Local Authority accepts them as apart of household food waste collections.

The move comes as part of the Co-op’s plan to reduce the effect of plastic pollution, with the bags being rolled out in over 1,000 stores across the UK.

Iain Ferguson, Environment Manager of Co-op, said: “Reducing the environmental impact of our products is, and always has been, at the core of Co-op’s efforts.

“Eliminating single-use plastic is a priority, and these bags are carefully designed to help local authorities with food recycling and reducing plastic contamination in a targeted way.”

The charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) have backed the move by the supermarket. WRAP campaign for more sustainable food and drink, clothing and textiles, electricals and electronics and plastics.

CEO of WRAP, Marcus Glover, said: “We absolutely need to explore innovative ways of tackling plastic pollution, but there is a balance to ensure initiatives are well thought through and avoid unintended consequences.

“I am pleased to see this reflected in the Co-op’s approach in its compostable carrier bag initiative. By everyone moving in the right direction, we can transform the plastic system in the UK and keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment.”