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Plastic bag-free town praised
04/04/2008
The Borders town of Selkirk has today been hailed for its efforts in tackling the plastic bag culture in Scotland.
On the day that the town plans to go 'plastic bag-free', Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead praised the community and called on the rest of Scotland to do its bit.
He said:
"You see plastic bags everywhere: on the street, in your garden, stuck in trees, and on our beautiful beaches.
"We use over one billion of them in Scotland each year. Plastic bags can lead to litter which is a blight on Scotland's landscape.
"I am delighted that the people and retailers of Selkirk are making a genuine effort to reduce the use of unnecessary bags.
"Other communities in Scotland are moving in the same direction, but there is no doubt that the town is setting an excellent example for the rest of the country.
"Any action is welcome, but there is still much more that can be done. Consumers have a key role to play, and one of the 10 Greener Pledges we launched in January is to reuse carrier bags.
"I also want to work closely with the retail sector to minimise the impact of carrier bags and am writing to ask what action they are taking.
"Reducing the unnecessary use of bags is crucial if we are to achieve a zero waste society in Scotland."
The 10 Greener Pledges are:
- Recycle household waste using locally-provided facilities
- Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth
- Switch to using energy-saving light bulbs
- Leave the car at home at least once a week and cycle, walk, share a car or use public transport more often
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones
- Reuse carrier bags when you shop
- Buy more seasonal and unpackaged food
- Hang your washing up to dry rather than using a tumbler dryer
- Organise or volunteer in an environmental project in your local community
- Pay back the environmental impact of any flights you take and choose not to fly when there's a suitable alternative
The initiative in Selkirk to make the town plastic bag free involves residents being issued with replacement canvas-type bags. The project has been backed by traders and funding from Scottish Borders Council's community grants scheme.