Plastic Bag Ban

"The plastic bag is the ultimate symbol of our throw away lifestyle"

A new Lewes District Council Sustainability Centre campaign to say NO to the plastic bag has already received a great response as the majority of of Lewes shops, including one of the supermarkets, have agreed to seriously consider offering alternatives. Shops in the coastal towns and villages will be visited soon. LDC are teaming up with local residents, Town and Parish councils and environmental organisations to find ways to "kick" the plastic habit.

A few facts from the new LDC leaflet about this ....

1.2 trillion plastic bags are used worlwide every year.

13 billion bags are issued to UK shoppers every year... 220 per person on average.

200 million bags end up as rubbish on our beaches.

Every plastic items lasts between 400 and 100o years and even then just gets smaller, never disappearing entirely.

Plastic bags contaminate soil, waterways and oceans, entering the food chain where they are ingested by animals.

90% approx of marine litter is plastic.

47% of wind borne litter, mostly plastic, escapes from landfill sites

The amount of petroleum used to make one plastic bag would drive a car 115 metres.

The ban on plastic bags in China will save 37 million barrels of oil

Plastic bags are already banned in the following countries... China, Germany, South Africa, Italy, Australia, India, Somalia, Botswana, Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, Japan, Turkey, Zanzibar, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Belguim, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Malta and Bhutan...

Thinking about this has persuaded me to sign up my company and reminded me to take one of my very many reusable hemp or cotton bags on my next trip to the shops...

LDC are planning to distribute a range of biodegradable smartbags to local shops... If you would like more information as a local resident or would like to sign up as a supportive local shop or business please contact trevor.watson@lewes.gov.uk

Comment by Sue Higgins on June 17, 2011 at 9:39: Plastic bags are a headache. I have a shopping trolly and several reuseable shoppers yet I still have a drawer in my kitchen bursting with plastic carriers. I have found a way to reuse which I haven't yet tried...

http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-ba...

Doesn't solve the problem I know.