BbC Banchory Bag Campaign
For some time a group of Banchory residents has been concerned about the litter caused by plastic carrier bags and the damage they cause to the environment. Banchory bags Campaign [BbC] started a campaign in January 2008 aimed at encouraging the Banchory community to change from using plastic carrier bags to, instead, using reusable bags in their daily business.
Click here and visit the Banchory bags Campaign blog!
Banchory Survey Results - Press Release - 22nd February 2008
Currently, the world uses over 1.2 trillion bags per annum and Somerfield in Banchory alone estimates that it gives away in excess of 2 million plastic carrier bags every year.
Plastics are unsustainable in the long run as they are an oil based product. They last for centuries. They pollute the countryside and the oceans of the world where plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 animals every year. (Birds, whales, dolphins, turtles, fish, etc mistake tiny pieces of plastic for jellyfish and plankton.) When the animals die, the plastic in their stomachs is released back into the environment time and time again.
In June 2007, Modbury, a town in Devon, was the first town in the UK to go plastic bag free and, since then, over 80 towns, including Selkirk and North Berwick, are planning to follow. If the group's aims succeed, Banchory could be the first 'town' in North East Scotland to become plastic bag free. Several countries which have decided to ban or discourage the use of plastic bags include: Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, Taiwan, Mumbai, France, West Bengal, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Switzerland, Rwanda, Denmark, Germany, South Africa, California, Somalia, Botswana, Philippines, New Zealand, AND NOW CHINA!
The “Banchory bags Campaign” (BbC) group, formed under the umbrella of Banchory & District Initiative Limited (BDI), believe that, although it may be only a small step towards helping our environment, removing plastic bags from the local shopping scene is a step that we can all take. BbC has already enlisted the help of local schools and has obtained the support of the largest local supermarket, Somerfield, and also of the Co-op. BbC will conduct surveys of Banchory shoppers and traders and if Bbc finds (as expected from informal soundings) that the community is behind the campaign, it is aiming for Banchory to be plastic bag free starting from 16 June 2008 - after St. Ternan’s Fair.
Bookmarks setting out 'Hints' to help shoppers to say, 'No Thanks' to plastic bags and listing a few facts about plastic are being given out and BbC is currently seeking funding for the project from a variety of local and national sources.
Christina Brown, the convenor of the campaign group said, ''It is up to the shoppers in Banchory to make this work. There has been a lot of discussion in the media about how to reduce the use of plastic bags and the litter they make. Some people think the government should be doing more, or that supermarkets should take the initiative. It is easy to forget that plastic bags are only a problem because people insist on using them. Just one cloth bag can replace at least 1000 plastic bags over its lifetime. It would be easy to make a big difference in Banchory.''
Sue Edwards, Chair of BDI said, '' BDI totally supports the campaign to reduce the amount of plastic used in Banchory. It not only helps the local environment, but definitely raises the profile in Banchory concerning the major environmental issues that the UK and the rest of the world face and what we need to do about them. We are delighted that the group came to BDI for support and we will help them in every way possible, including handling their finances and advertising the project on BDI's community website and in our newsletters.''
Those involved in the campaign are:
Christina Brown
Sharon Abbott
Fiona Hope
Mark Hope
Cllr.Karen Clark
Sheila Hargraves
Paul Herrington
Roz Scott
Ann Verney
Banchory bags Campaign would like to thank the following sponsors
MAERSK OIL
ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL
BANCHORY & DISTRICT ROUND TABLE
SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
PGL / SENERGY
CNR INTERNATIONAL
KEEP SCOTLAND BEAUTIFUL
NORTH BANCHORY COMPANY
RAEBURN CHRISTIE CLARK AND WALLACE
BbC believe that the campaign has reduced the numbers of single-use plastic carrier bags given away in the town and, if you walk around Banchory, you will definitely notice more and more people carrying their own reusable bags. You will also hear shop assistants asking customers if they need a bag, and shoppers replying; 'No thank you. I have my own'.
For further information contact:
Christina Brown
e-mail: christina.brown40@googlemail.com
telephone 01330 822510
Karen Clark
cllr.k.clark@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
01330 824980