The Tongan Government is considering imposing a tax on plastic shopping bags in a bid to curb their use.
The Minister of Finance, Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, says the use of disposable bags over the past 20 years has taken its toll on the environment and promoted a throwaway culture which is not part of traditional values.
Mr 'Utoikamanu says shoppers would be charged 10 US cents a bag by retailers in the proposed PlasTax.
He says the aim of the tax is to raise awareness about the country's litter problem and make people think twice before buying and discarding non-recyclable bags.
Revenue raised by the PlasTax would go towards the government's existing environmental programmes.