LONDON (AP) — One of Britain's largest retailers says it will start charging for plastic bags at all of its stores as part of a drive to eliminate waste.

Beginning May 6, food and clothing retailer Marks & Spencer says it will charge five pence, or about 10 US cents, per plastic bag.

Marks & Spencer says it hopes the charge will save 280 million bags per year, and income from bags that are sold will go to an environmental charity called Groundwork.

The company said yesterday that it has tested the idea in Northern Ireland and southwestern England, and says it cut bag use by 70 percent.

The move is part of a growing push away from plastic bags. The New York City Council passed a law this month requiring stores to collect and recycle bags, following a similar law in California. Last year, San Francisco passed the nation's first bag ban, which took effect in November.

Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market also said last month it would stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

One effect is on the bag manufacturers. On Tuesday, China's largest producer of plastic bags said it had closed at the beginning of February. The government had announced a high-profile ban last month on stores handing out free bags in an effort to clean up the environment.