Ban the bags, don't bin them plea (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Ban the bags, don't bin them plea

11:49am Thursday 7th June 2007

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MALMESBURY is set to become a plastic bag-free zone.

New mayor John Lawton is talking to traders with a view to replacing carrier bags with biodegradable cotton carriers in a two-pronged bid to cut pollution and promote Fair Trade in the town.

He stressed it was early days, but the feedback so far had been encouraging.

He said: "I hope we get a positive response. I would imagine there will be some initial resistance to it because there will be a set-up cost."

But he added there would be savings in the long-term.

"The first approach has been some of the larger organisations in the area to see if they will sponsor part of the cost and I'm waiting for them to respond.

"Then we will make an approach to the Chamber of Commerce and local shops to see if any of them will be willing to enter into this pilot scheme."

Sponsors and businesses taking part will have all their names advertised on one side of the bags, while the other will carry a logo or slogan for the town.

It is hoped the initial print run will be for 10,000 bags and shops will be able to sell the bags to customers for a small fee to recoup their costs.

A straw poll among a few shopkeepers in town revealed they give away up to 6,000 plastic bags a year to customers. Most of them will end up in landfill.

"That is costing them money and it is costing the environment considerably."

Several traders have voiced interest in the idea and they want to know more. "They seem to have a willingness to experiment," said Mr Lawton.

The cotton bags will be produced through Fair Trade and printed using biodegradable rather than oil-based inks.

"They will be fully biodegradable. In 10 years when the bag is finished you will be able to chuck it in the compost."

He explained getting rid of the plastic carriers was not initially towards the council's ambition of making Malmesbury a Fair Trade town. But he said: "It will help us towards our ambition."

If it goes ahead, Malmesbury will be following in the footsteps of nearby Stroud and Modbury in Devon, which even held a plastic bag amnesty and sent them to be turned into art.

Have your say on the scheme. Make a comment below.

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