THE plastic bag has attracted considerable attention in the last couple of years.
From a position in 2006 when plastic bags were freely given, supermarkets are now falling over themselves to encourage us all to use fewer.
When I spoke to a senior supermarket manager in 2006, he admitted that most of the supermarket companies would love to stop providing them free of charge altogether, but industry peer pressure was preventing them from being the first to take a stand.
After the debate about a plastic bag tax following its introduction in Ireland, the government decided against introducing one, although there is an agreement in place with supermarket companies that they would collectively reduce the number given out by half by this month.
It is not clear at this stage whether the target will be met, although good progress has been made with a reduction of at least 25 per cent in the last couple of years.
The amount of plastic used in each bag has also reduced by 40 per cent over the same period, equating to a saving of 130,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and the same impact as removing 41,000 cars from our roads.
While industry has been trying to reduce demand for plastic bags by promoting "bags for life" and removing them from open display, community groups and small traders associations have also been promoting the idea of "plastic bag-free days".
Broadwater traders have already held a couple of successful events of this nature.
As part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions, the local office of the Environment Agency is leading on a plastic bag free day across Worthing and Shoreham on Saturday, June 6, coinciding with World Environment Day.
Jute bags will be offered from manned stalls outside the Guildbourne Centre and Ropetackle from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
The bags have been designed by local schoolchildren so they will be unique to our area. If you are in town on that day, be sure to visit the stall and get your bag and other advice about environmental issues.
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