Phase two of the carrier bag campagin.

[Andy Hamilton]

I have sent the following email to the main candidates running in the forth comming election - Please copy, paste it and do the same for your area if you have time. Thanks.

Hello ministers

I have started a campaign to try and stop Britain from using so many carrier bags. Over 10 billion are used in this country and only 1% ever get reused. As you can imagine this puts a massive strain on our already over burdened landfill sites. see http://www.selfsufficientish.com/carrier%20bags.htm

The campaign is being fought on three fronts, the first is to raise awareness ensuring that the general public are aware of the impact the over use of bags has on our environment.

The second will be directly to supermarkets and high street retailers to find out what, if anything, they are doing about this issue.

The third front is where you come in I would like to propose the notion of a 'plastax'. This has already worked in Ireland reducing bag use by somewhere between 90-97%. The revenue raised can be used to fund environmental projects across our country. The shops will be happy as they will save money from not having to produce so many bags and thus is could increase their profit margin.

I shall be publishing this email on my website along with your responses as part of the campaign.

Look forward to hearing from you.

--
Andy Hamilton
http://www.selfsufficientish.com
The Urban Guide to Almost Self Sufficiency

[Naomi]

Found this on another site. A smallholder is producing beautifully made patchwork recycled cloth shopping bag,s so you can support a small producer and reduce waste!
I think they are great!


Cloth shopping bags
The 'green' alternative to dozens of plastic carrier bags! These bags are made from furnishing fabric and are washable and infinately reusable. Why not do your bit for the environment? The bags cost £3 each or 4 for £10 plus postage.See the photo on home page using this website http://www.upperwoodfarm.co.uk/index.php
email to order
sales@upperwoodfarm.co.uk

[DYSONI2@aol.com]

Laskarina holidays (Greek Island specialists) always give away a large cloth bag to their clients at the start of every holiday. This is to lessen the amount of plastic bags used while on the islands and reduce the plastic litter on the beaches.
I have not heard of any other holiday company who do this. I believe Laskarina should be congratulated - As far as I know it has been going on for at least 10 years.

[ina]

But then, you generally know it's somebody from "the Continent" if you see a shopper with a cloth bag... Or at least somebody who's travelled on the Continent. I've got about a dozen of them, most from Germany, one from Italy.

But here's an idea for recycling and making cloth bags at home: Use the legs of your old jeans. The bottoms, below the knees, don't usually get worn out much - I always hate throwing them out when the thighs are rubbed through. One pair of old jeans makes a lovely jeans bag. I'm hoping to get my sowing machine set up before Christmas, and I suppose I'll "delight" all my friends with homemade recycled bags, filled with homemade jam etc.!

Ina

[diver]

I do a lot of sewing, both making and mending, but, am I slow or something...how do you make a shopping bag from the legs of old jeans??

[ina]

Ooops, I hope I can explain that without the help of a drawing!

Cut off legs below knee. Undo one of the seams (I think the outside one is better, the inside should be a bit straighter); that gives you two roughly square bits of material. If necessary, cut them down to same size. Sow up along three sides, add long or short handles from other bits of the jeans (or rope), and that should be it. (Sorry, not very detailed... ) Whether you leave the edges in a very 70s fringe, or make a neat hem, that's up to you!

Have fun, and don't forget, winter's coming, so don't cut ALL your jeans off now

Ina

[liney]

I have sent the following email to the main candidates running in the forth comming election - Please copy, paste it and do the same for your area if you have time. Thanks.

Hello ministers

I have started a campaign to try and stop Britain from using so many carrier bags. Over 10 billion are used in this country and only 1% ever get reused. As you can imagine this puts a massive strain on our already over burdened landfill sites. see http://www.selfsufficientish.com/carrier%20bags.htm

The campaign is being fought on three fronts, the first is to raise awareness ensuring that the general public are aware of the impact the over use of bags has on our environment.

The second will be directly to supermarkets and high street retailers to find out what, if anything, they are doing about this issue.

The third front is where you come in I would like to propose the notion of a 'plastax'. This has already worked in Ireland reducing bag use by somewhere between 90-97%. The revenue raised can be used to fund environmental projects across our country. The shops will be happy as they will save money from not having to produce so many bags and thus is could increase their profit margin.

I shall be publishing this email on my website along with your responses as part of the campaign.

Look forward to hearing from you.

--
Andy Hamilton
http://www.selfsufficientish.com
The Urban Guide to Almost Self Sufficiency

Hi Andy

I guess you didn't get any responses from the ministers as they haven't been posted...or am i looking in the wrong place?

[Shirley]

Cut off legs below knee. Undo one of the seams (I think the outside one is better, the inside should be a bit straighter); that gives you two roughly square bits of material. If necessary, cut them down to same size. Sow up along three sides, add long or short handles from other bits of the jeans (or rope), and that should be it. (Sorry, not very detailed... ) Whether you leave the edges in a very 70s fringe, or make a neat hem, that's up to you!

What a fantastic idea Ina - I'm a cloth bag carrier btw and have only once been abroad :) - I got my cloth bag from Myriad Organics in Ludlow (We used to live in Herefordshire)

We are now in Aberdeenshire near Alford - whereabouts in Kincardineshire are you based??

Shirlz xx

[ina]

Hey, that's practically round the corner! I'm between Fettercairn and Auchenblae.

And I've just told my boss NOT to throw out his jeans (the gap across the knee is now so wide that even he thinks it's time for a new pair), but to pass them on to me instead! He'll get a bag for Christmas, too. I'm slowly converting my colleagues... Hard work, on some of them.

Yes, I've got one English clothbag, too. The local shop actually had some for sale, but they were the long-handled variety, and I prefer those with short handles - but as I say, I really have plenty of them. Some of them 15 years old at least, and still going strong.

[Shirley]

I was planning a 'recycled christmas' this year anyway so I reckon I'll be making a few of those bags for various people :)

I'm trying to find my last copy of the Green Parent magazine because I have a feeling that this next issue has a cloth bag for every reader with it :D - I should have my copy within the next day or so so I'll let you know.

Shirlz xx

[Sue]

At least T***o and M & S etc are working slowly towards it - with recycling bag collection points (although I'm not sure about that) and reusable bags for £1
Interestingly in the Guardian? last week they had a green supplement - it recommended getting carrier bags and using them as bin liners!! Surely wrong, but it did say it cuts down on making bin bags therefore cutting down on the plastic made. Why is being green or trying so blooming confusing? I guess as long as we are trying its a little help for our lovely world?
Traidcraft sell bags too - but with postage can be pricey - and after all true greenies are supposed to buy local - aren't we? So homemade is best!
If you can't find a pair of jeans you are allowed to cut down (or its too bulky to shove in your pocket or handbag) don't forget to browse those charity shops.
If they don't have any bags, they do have lots of cheap clothes you could cut up for fabric (great for patchworks and rag rugs too)

Saw a great idea in the "How to change to world for a fiver"
Haggle with a charity shop - but haggle upwards! Try it its great fun!

[Shirley]

The charity shop haggle sounds like a great idea!!

I want to start making patchwork things - I bought a lovely fairtrade skirt that is patchwork and it's given me the bug. That said, I haven't even made anything in patchwork but will certainly give it a shot.

I've also got a pattern for making my own crochet/knotted string bags but haven't got round to doing one yet.

Oooh rag rugs - now I really quite fancy having a go of that too.

Now, just need to find me some time to actually have a go at any of the above. Still in the process of unpacking boxes - which is a long and painful process when little children want to 'help'

Still searching for the breadmaker - it seems to have disappeared.

Shirlz xx

[ina]

Can you post that pattern for the string bag, please? I used to have one, and lost it - and I love knitting and crocheting etc, only not the stuff you usually see (baby hats in sickening pink and plastic...)

Cheers
Ina

[dmwcarol]

I just found these brilliant instructions for recycling used carrier bags into something much more reusable

http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Plas ... 0tote.html

Definitely worth a try - if only I can work out how to crochet!

[Cornelian]

Andy - that link in your email letter goes nowhere but to a 404 error page.