BRITAIN'S first carrier bag charge may be dropped in favour of a voluntary strategy drawn up between supermarkets and council chiefs.

Durham County Council is considering levying a charge on carriers to try to cut down on waste.

The authority launched a public consultation exercise - in conjunction with The Northern Echo - earlier this year.

Now officials say they are keen to work alongside supermarkets to draw up a more environmentally friendly strategy that could negate the need for an extra charge.

Supermarket group Somerfield has already introduced bio-degradable bags in its County Durham stores.

As part of the council's policy review of carrier bag use, the authority wants a survey on the policies of each local supermarket. Representatives of store groups with premises in the Durham city area are now to be invited to County Hall for a carrier bag conference.

The authority first raised the issue after a tax was introduced in Ireland on every carrier bag issued by supermarkets earlier this year.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones tabled a parliamentary question last week seeking clarification on Government thinking.

He was told the Government was in favour of a more environmentally-friendly approach.

The county council estimates 65 million carrier bags enter the waste stream in the county each year. Ian Mackenzie, the council's head of overview and scrutiny, said: "We are looking for support of local supermarkets to see if we can have an impact on the number of carrier bags used.

"We have organised a meeting and invited them to have someone present to have a discussion to see what we do in practice.

"We realise we can't do it alone, but we want the store groups to be enthusiastic and to be involved in the process.

"It's a case of having a chat about it to see what can be worked out. The policy of most supermarkets show they are keen to be environmentally friendly in what they do and we want to move forward in what is a relatively small way."

Many supermarkets were moving towards degradeable bags and doing what they could to be more environmentally sensitive and the council felt it could do more in partnership.

Mr Mackenzie said it was hoped a voluntary agreement could be reached with all supermarkets over the issue of carrier bags.