Shoppers in a small rural town have been offered plastic bags for the last time before it becomes the first in Britain to ban them altogether.
Businesses in Modbury, Devon, will not use plastic bags in a bid to reduce the impact they have on the environment.
Traders also believe they are the first in Europe to try such a scheme move, which is being trialled for six months. The bag ban was the brainchild of BBC wildlife camerawoman Rebecca Hosking, who is from Modbury.
Shewas so moved when she saw the effects of plastic on wildlife she was filming in Hawaii she decided to try and get her home town to ban them altogether.
"What really brought it home for me was one day filming a turtle," she said. "It had a plastic bag in its mouth and was slowly dying, there was nothing we could do.
(When I was in Darmasala in India a few yesr ago I was horrified by the mountains of plastic bottles tipped down the side of the Himalayas. The town itself bans plastic bags .tigress)
great example of 'think globally, act locally
.
tigress
RE: Modbury bans plastic bags
Hi Tigress
I think there is already a link to this story on Rosie's recycling thread. Nevertheless IMO it's a good idea to bring it to everyone's attention in a thread of its own.
This is to my way of thinking wonderful news. Plastic is so easy and so convenient but it's an awful thing for the environment. India, for example, is drowning in a sea of plastic.
Mind you, you can bet your bottom dollar that the plastic bag industry are going to be fighting this tooth and nail. I noticed in the new rich list that No. 5 (I think) is a husband and wife couple who are in 'packaging'. That's how much money is involved.
Anyway three cheers for Modbury.
With love
Sunanda xxx
RE: Modbury bans plastic bags
Yes, well done to Modbury.
A blast from the past as I know this village -I was actually born there.:)
RE: Modbury bans plastic bags
Hey moonfairy! You must have left some good vibes behind in Modbury. I bet it's all down to you that they've gone plastic free! Well done!:D
Love
Sunanda xxx
RE: Modbury bans plastic bags
Thanks Sunanda.I'd like to think so, but it surely was many 'moons' ago now.:D:D
RE: Modbury bans plastic bags
I hope they keep it going for longer than 6 months. I had the plastic bag mountain in my flat not so long ago and I really struggled to get somewhere to recycle them.
I have a fairtrade jute bag now which goes everywhere with me. I say no to plastic bags in my local shop, it would amaze you how little you need to purchase to get offered one.
Our selfishness is leading to animals dying. I also have WWF turtle bags and various other shopping bags which I am using, including 2 made from recycled plastic bottles.