Your blogger has just been told that Appin has been very successful in its struggle against plastic bags.
According to GP (ret.) Dr. Ian McNicoll of the Appin Community Cooperative, the Appin Community Cooperative shop*) started charging 5p for their plastic carrier bags on 1st May 2008.
Prior to that date they gave the bags away for free, to the tune of 50,000 bags a year, which cost the shop £1,000.
Since May 2008, consumption has dropped to less than 5,000 bags a year and the shop has made a profit on the bags it has sold. It is a profit that goes straight back into the community, for example towards an expensive off-premises alcohol license, without which the shop would find it difficult to survive.
Dr. McNicoll told your blogger that there were some objections from customers initially but only for a few weeks.
It is another example of a shop making a big difference by taking what may initially be perceived as an unpopular step.
Way to go, Appin!
*) for a photo of the shop, please click on the link http://www.camuscross.org/index.asp?pageid=79595 and scroll down a bit.
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