The Gwynedd Environmental Partnership has launched a campaign in Pwllheli aimed at cutting down on the use of plastic bags used by shoppers.
The Carry Your Bag scheme has already been successfully piloted in Porthmadog and it is hoped to roll out the campaign to other areas of Gwynedd in the future.
The programme will work with local businesses, shoppers and visitors to raise awareness of the effects plastic bags can have on the environment. For example, in 2009, 9.9 billion plastic bags were given out to shoppers in Britain – this is equivalent to 400 per household. The vast majority of these bags will be thrown out with the rubbish.
In an attempt to overcome this problem the Gwynedd Environmental Partnership aims to reduce how many plastic bags are used in the county and encourage shoppers to think carefully about how they will carry their goods home.
Free, reusable cotton bags are available at several shops, including Copi, Oriel Pwlldefaid, Gwin Llyn Wines, Elspeth Mills Clothing, J & L Jewellers, Tenovus, Llên Llŷn, D & E Hughes, Tiggs Clothing Ltd, TE Hughes, News Plus, Cloth World, Co-op.
Businesses taking part in the campaign are also encouraging people to cut down of how may plastic bags used by:
- Asking shoppers if they need a plastic bag at the till
- Encourage people to re-use plastic bags
- Putting a poster in the shop window to raise awareness of the campaign.
Huw Davies, Chairman of the Gwynedd Environmental Partnership, said:
“This scheme is relevant and timely project as the Welsh Government has announced that businesses will have to start charging for plastic bags as of October 2011. This scheme will be a good way of preparing people in the county for this change.”
Other shops and businesses in the Pwllheli area who wish to take part in the scheme should contact the Gwynedd Environmental Partnership at [email protected]
