A tax has cleared the Republic of Ireland's streets and countryside of discarded plastic bags.

In spring 2002 plastic-bag litter was effectively killed off by a levy of 15 euro cents for every bag handed out. In five months, the use of plastic bags was slashed by more than 90 per cent.

The Irish environment ministry estimates that the "plastax" brings in 10 million pounds a year, which is being spent on environmental projects...