The 'Carry a Bag' Campaign

  Help us | Lobby Shops | A UK Plastax?

One of my pet hates is the over use of carrier bags. In the UK Friends of the Earth state that the amount of plastic packaging waste from UK homes is about one million tonnes. With landfill sites getting fuller, then should we not be doing something? About 80% of our waste could be reused or recycled. Carrier bags only make up a small percentage of this waste, but every little helps.So why not 'carry a bag!'

What can you do to help our cause?

We really need your help to help us gain some pace in this 'carry a bag campaign'. Obviously the easiest way to help out is simply to remember to bring some bags with you next time you go shopping, hence 'carry a bag'.

Some supermarkets will offer 'bags for life' and some councils will give away free jute bags. I try to remember to bring a small rucksack with me when shopping. I and many others have commented on how many shop assistants will already have put items in a bag before you have any chance to use your own, this can happen. Although many of us want a quiet life and not to stand out it is good to insist that you use your own bag and with every transaction you get a chance to raise awareness. In fact my Dad told me that he emptied out his shopping onto the counter the other day as the assistant refused to listen when he repeatedly said that he had a bag. Good on you Dad.

Stop shops from using so many bags

Of course it might be better to go straight to the source to stop the use of carrier bags. I mean, of course, the shops themselves. This is why I have created this simple page for you to print out and give to your local shop, or indeed every shop that you can. The page contains a simple text and our 'stop using bags' logo, the text reads, "Please ask if you require a carrier bag, we are trying to reduce the unnecessary use of plastic and the impact it has on the environment". The page can be found by clicking here.

I am also in the process of emailing all the major uk retailers with details of the campaign and I will report back with any statements that I receive. So far a few have responded including Waitrose, Tesco, I was most impressed with Majestic Wines who stated that they mostly use reusable cardboard wine carriers rather than bags and Marks and Spencer also seem to be trying to make some sort of difference along with the co-op and Holland and Barret.

A UK Plastax?

Ireland introduced a tax on carrier bags back in 2002. Over the last three years this has reduced bag use by a massive 94%. It is perfectly viable over here and all proceeds could go to fund environmental projects across our country. So why do we not introduce it here.

I have sent an email to all main candidates running for office in my local area in the forthcoming general election and to Tony Blair (Labour), Dianne Abbot (Labour) Margaret Becket (Labour) and Mike Pringle (Lib Dems). It can be found on the message forum feel free to copy and paste it and send it to your local candidates. I will keep an update of the responses I get from these ministers and post their replies on the forum. Also see more of the discussion

Although all the major political parties have been contacted in relation to the carry-a-bag campaign only two have so far responded. Nick Palmer (thank you to Iris for contacing your candidates) the Labour candidate for Broxtowe (Nottinghamshire) and Mike Pringle the Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh South. In fact I have contacted all the main candidates in Bath and none have responded, not even the Green Party!

Nick Palmer said that he supports an Ireland style Plastax over here and Mike Pringle has gone a step further, a huge step further; perusing a private members bill for the introduction of a Plastax in Scotland. I telephoned him earlier today to get some more of a response and here is what he said,'The bill has not been ruled out by the Scottish Executive, however there has been massive opposition from the plastic bag industry.' He went on to say that should his bill be accepted by the Scottish Executive it will come into affect by early 2006.' All good news but in that case what is England doing? Is this side of the border so scared of the plastics industry?

Other stories about reducing plastic bag use

In the Republic of Ireland (Eire) a 15 cent 'plastax' has reduced bag use by 90 percent. More ....

Bangladesh and Taiwan they have introduced a ban as they were destroying the environment and clogging up the drainage system. More...

Is Jersey the next place to introduce a plastax? More....