Charge on plastic carrier bags a great success story

Good news:

The number of plastic bags handed out by supermarkets in Scotland fell by 147 million last year - the first figures since a 5p charge was introduced.

The reduction came despite the levy for single-use bags only being in place for the final 11 weeks of the year.

But in England - where large shops will have to charge for plastic bags from October - 200 million more bags were used in 2014, Defra research suggested.

Northern Ireland saw usage fall by 42.6%, while Wales had a rise of 5.2%.

The fall in Scotland follows statistics released three months ago, which suggested the number of carrier bags being used by shoppers had fallen by 90%.

For more, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33644662

Scotland has changed legislation on single-use plastic carrier bags

Today, Scotland's legislation on charging for single-use plastic carrier bags is coming into effect. The new legislation is bound to reduce the number of plastic bags, a vast number of which end up in the environment where they not only look unsightly but also endanger wildlife, especially when they end up in the sea.

For more details, please see here:
http://carrierbagchargescotland.org.uk

Impose heavy fees on plastic bags in supermarkets

Lively interview on BBC Today Radio, Thursday, 2 August 2012:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9742000/9742259.stm

A fee of 5p introduced in Wales in October 2011 has resulted in a significant reduction (up to 90%) of plastic bags handed out by some supermarket chains. Scotland is currently holding a consultation on the issue  – why, when it looks like a no-brainer?

Maybe we should adopt Judith Holder's idea not just of charging a levy of £1 per bag, to make people remember to bring their own bags. She also feels that shoppers might be encouraged if supermarkets created a fast check-out lane for people with their own shopping bags.

We urgently need to reduce the amount of plastic stuff in our lives, much of which ends up in the oceans, where it has a devastating impact on the wildlife.
Here's a must-read article on this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096142/Sperm-whales-How-plastic-bags-poisoning-planets-greatest-predators.html

Oban shores full of rubbish after the storms

Following the first big storm of 2012 to hit Oban,
I ventured out along the Esplanade.  This is what I found.
Do let's try to keep packaging – and plastics – to an absolute minimum. 

A plea by Keep Scotland Tidy as seen on one of the big litter bins near the Columba Hotel

Glorious Oban Bay...

Not so glorious when you look close...

 Oban's Esplanade pavement all but impassable to pedestrians

The derelict fishing vessel completely destroyed

Swans sitting on the beach in the "Wee Oban Bay", amid litter that's been there for weeks, not just since the latest storm on 3Jan2012!

In the usual places, the rubbish eddies along with the bladderwrack

 

Festival of the Sea: Beach Clean in Oban with GRAB

In the context of SAMS' Festival of the Sea, GRAB Trust's Caroline Askew and several helpers participated in a Beach Clean at Oban Harbour on 24th May.

Have a green Christmas

Achaleven Primary School in Connel, Argyll, have been promoting green, sustainable, package and rubbish-reduced living.

Last Tuesday, 24 November, the school put on a coffee evening themed Have a green Christmas.

The children sold eco-friendly bags and cards as well as gifts to promote their eco work. Head Teacher Sharon Burt and her team put on a fantastic spread of baking; there were also a lucky dip and a raffle with great prizes.

Despite really horrible weather, the room was packed with parents and friends.

All money raised will be put towards further developing the school's garden.

(© Photo: Caroline Askew, The GRAB Trust)

Sustainable Oban / Oban Plastic Bag Free! were happy to be present with displays promoting the two organisations. Thank you for your hospitality, Achaleven.

The Story of Stuff -- Sunday, 29th November 2009, Benderloch, Argyll, Scotland

Dear All

On Sunday, 29th November, 2009, an extremely instructive and entertaining cartoon documentary will be shown at 7pm at the Victory Hall in Benderloch, Argyll.
Admission free -- donations welcome.

The Story of Stuff

What it's about:
"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever." (from the Story of Stuff website)

Following on to watching this short video together, we will have a discussion and a "freecycle"-inspired STUFF SWAP. So, please bring something that you've long been wanting to get rid of and swap it for something someone else may bring and that you would like to have.

Mairi Stones and friends, as well as Sustainable Oban, look forward to seeing you there.

A success story from Appin, Argyll

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.