Plastic-bag free day

Published on Mon 31st Mar 2008

Rosalind Wright

Rosalind Wright on the campaign to banish the plastic-bag.

Dear Sir,

I applaud the efforts of all involved with the plastic-bag free day and hope it has been successful in raising awareness of the need to cut down on plastic bag use. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down and we are using billions of them every year. Not only is the production of bags a drain on our scarce natural resources, it also damages wildlife. Modbury, Devon was the first town to go plastic bag free and it all stemmed from one camerawoman's horror at seeing marine life in the Pacific trapped by plastic bags and other debris. It just goes to show how much action at home can have a global effect.

Modbury has now been without plastic bags for nearly a year. Aylsham is due to follow suit. Making Norwich "plastic bag free" will not happen overnight, but I hope that with public, producers and shops on board, we can all work towards the long-term goal of eliminating plastic bags. I have written to supermarkets and other stores in the Norwich area asking what they are doing to reduce public usage of plastic bags and what support they need to make their efforts more effective. I am receiving interesting and encouraging responses.

If behaviour continues to change and the message of plastic bag free day is not forgotten, I have every hope that this campaign Norwich will be sustainable and achieve its goal.

Yours

Rosalind Wright

Eaton Ward Councillor