Imagine walking through your community without seeing plastic bags cluttering the streets or polluting your parks. Creating a plastic bag free community isn’t just a dream; it’s a goal we can achieve together. The environmental impact of plastic bags is staggering, harming wildlife and polluting our planet. But change starts with us.
Store all bags away from children and pets. If you launder bags made with synthetic materials (polyester or recycled plastic bottles), do so in a microplastics catcher.
The Devon town of Modbury was Europe’s first plastic-bag free town. Rebecca was a BBC wildlife camerwoman who filmed albatross chicks dying in front of her as their parents fed them plastic. So she returned home, plied the locals with wine at an art gallery to show her film. Within a month the town had no plastic. Even delis use compostable pots and the local supermarket has no plastic bags.
Residents were given free cloth bags through the post, and there were amnesty bins, to place plastic bags. These were sent off to be made into recycled plastic park benches. She says although they were supportive, doing this privately meant quicker results than a council-led ban.
Other plastic-bag free towns up and running are Penzance in Cornwall and even the whole island of Anglesey in North Wales. Sidmouth in North Devon also is almost plastic-free with local volunteers scooping up any plastic waste they can find!
Developing a Community Action Plan
- Organize Community Meetings: Host gatherings to raise awareness. Invite residents to share ideas and express their concerns about plastic waste.
- Brainstorm Together: Use these meetings as a chance to generate a wide range of ideas. Bring up suggestions like community clean-up days or workshops on making reusable bags.
- Set Clear Goals: For instance, aim to reduce plastic bag usage by a certain percentage in a year. Make sure everyone understands their role in achieving these goals.
Forming Alliances with Local Businesses
- Ask local stores to stop providing plastic bags. Instead, promote reusable grocery bags or supermarket bags for life. These options will appeal to eco-conscious customers.
- Host Workshops and Seminars: Offer sessions where residents can learn about the effects of plastic pollution on wildlife and waterways. Bring in experts to share facts and personal stories to create a deeper connection.
- Distribute materials in local restaurants or community centers. Highlight the importance of switching to reusable bags and provide information on where to find them.
Plastic Bag Free Taxes and Incentives
- San Francisco, California: This city was one of the first to enact a ban on plastic bags, introducing a small tax on paper and plastic bags. The result? A dramatic drop in plastic bag usage. Businesses reported a 70% reduction in plastic bag distribution within just a year.
- Seattle, Washington: In Seattle, a similar tax approach led to a significant behavioral change. Residents embraced reusable grocery bags, leading to a 50% decrease in single-use plastic bags after just two years.
- Dublin, Ireland: Ireland implemented a plastic bag levy in 2002. This tax saw plastic bag use plummet by over 90%. The tax motivated shoppers to bring their own bags, showcasing a powerful shift in consumer habits.
Incentives for Using Reusable Bags
In addition to taxes, local governments can offer incentives to promote the use of reusable bags. By rewarding eco-friendly choices, communities can encourage a lasting commitment to sustainability. Also help charities (this organic tote from Wildlife Aid is made from organic cotton, and helps fund wildlife rescues). Here are some effective strategies:
- Many grocery stores now provide discounts for customers who bring their own reusable bags. These discounts not only save money but also raise awareness about the benefits of going plastic-free.
- Set up a local system for sharing reusable bags. It could be as simple as a bin at the supermarket where people can take or donate bags.
