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"Town dumps plastic bags"
Modbury - a plastic bag-free zone
Town dumps plastic bags
Shopkeepers in the Devon town of Modbury are claiming a European first, by
being entirely free of plastic bags.
Plastic bags have been consigned to the bin by traders in a Devon town in
a bid to be more green. All 43 shopkeepers in Modbury are taking part in the
initiative, following a suggestion by a wildlife camerawoman who lives in
the town.
Rebecca Hosking was moved to tears as she filmed marine life off Hawaii for
the BBC2 programme, Natural World (you can watch some of the film using this
link ).
"What really brought it home for me was one day filming a turtle,"
she said.
Rebecca says she just wanted to do her bit "It had a plastic bag in its
mouth and was slowly dying, there was nothing we could do. "We were also
filming albatross who were picking up plastic and feeding it to their chicks
and we saw so many suffer a slow and painful death.
"I turned the camera off and just broke down crying. "We see pretty
grim things all the time, but this was man-made and it bugged me and I wanted
to do something about it."
When Rebecca, 33, returned home to Modbury, she set out on a mission to turn
the town plastic-bag-free and managed to convince each and
every trader to get on board. Now, towns across the UK and around the world
are keen to follow Modbury's example.
"We never thought it would take off like this," Rebecca told BBC Devon. "I just wanted to do my bit. But the whole thing is just flying. "This was a really big thing for the shops to take up - it's their business, after all.
"Now, the butchers and delicatessen are coming up with other biodegradable
things, like pots to put olives and sun-dried tomatoes in, and to wrap meat
up in. Birds are being killed by discarded rubbish. "This was supposed
to be a six month trial, but the butchers are already talking about getting
cornstarch bags which are big enough for the turkeys at Christmas."
It's not just the small, independent traders who have embraced the initiative
- the town's Co-op has also joined in. On a busy day, the store could use
500 to 1,000 plastic bags, but those days are now gone. Tim Pearce, from Plymouth
and South West Co-op, said: "We're really pleased to get behind this.
It was an initiative which was started by local traders. They asked us to
get involved and were delighted to do so."
The store also donated re-usable, fairtrade cotton bags which were delivered
to each of Modbury's 760 households in time for the plastic bag ban, which
came in on 1 May 2007.
In addition, Rod Baker from Torpoint in Cornwall has supplied nearly 2,000
large reusable cotton and jute Bags2Keep to retailers. The reusable bags are
imported from a small factory in Mumbai and printed in the UK using water-based
organic ink. "I was a bit of a doubting Thomas that it would come together,"
he said. "But all credit to Rebecca - she was so strong willed and determined.
"To get a group of independently minded people to come together for a
single purpose is no mean feat."
An amnesty bin for plastic bags
Plastic bag amnesty bins are dotted around Modbury, and those collected will
be put to good use - in being recycled for furniture made entirely out of
plastic waste.
The story has really captured the public's imagination, and Modbury has been
inundated by the world's media. Rebecca's phone has also been red hot: "Other
towns are saying 'will Rebecca bring her film to our town.'
"But I think the reason this has worked in Modbury is because I am local
and people know me. "If other towns are to do this, the message has to
come from someone who lives in the local community. "But it's absolutely
amazing what we've started here."
You can watch some of Rebecca's
film using the link on this page. There is also a link to the Modbury
- Plastic Bag Free Town website
Have Your Say
What do you think about Rebecca's initiative and the way it has taken
off? Have your say here and read other people's messages.
Your name:
Your comment:
The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted.
Annie Roberts
When I watched Rebecca Hoskings film last week, I wept and felt ashamed to
be a human being - what have we done to our planet and the creatures and plants
that co-habit with us. We have betrayed the trust that was placed with us
as stewards of the land. I would like to do something in my village - is it
possible for the BBC to release
a copy of the film - everyone I spoke to after 2nd May had not seen
the film. I would like to make it available to everyone in my community -
at a Village Hall gathering. Would someone please contact me as to the feasibility
of that happening. I really think this is urgent...like Rebecca, we have to
start at the grass roots....and put
right what we have collectively done wrong.Thank you. And Thank You
Rebecca Hosking - I cried with you...Annie Roberts, Devoran, Cornwall.
Dawn Stephens
I would like to bring this idea to Wantage where we live. Is there
any chance of getting Rebecca to come and talk to our Chamber of
Commerce or Breakfast Club? I would do all I could to encourage this
market town to take up the same stance. Well done Rebecca...What a
horror story!
Kim Jones
The world needs people like Rebecca. We all sit back and applaude,
but what we all need to do is our "bit" and recycle, no more plastic
bags.... We can all make a stand, and make the change. These
wonderful creatures need us now, so as of tomorrow, I'm re-educating
me, my family, friends. Thank you Rebecca.
Katrina Power
Brilliant but could it work in a bigger town, like Norwich. At the
moment i'm living in Sicily, and the local supermarket gave away Long
life shopping bags at christmas. sadly I am the only one i have seen
ever using it or reusing a plastic bag.
DEREK RUSSEL
Sirs,I live in Thailand where all forms of polution persist. It needs
someone of Rebecca's ilk to try something here. If she, or anybody
else, knows of a sensible organisation in Thailand I would love to
here of it.
Bridget Kirke
Fantastic news. Well done Modbury. As an ex Modbury shopkeeper (shop
now called Ringrose)I know how the town can pull together and make a
difference. Well done everyone. To anyone who has never been to
Modbury .... go .... you'll discover a real sense of community in
this town with the friendliest shopkeepers. Here's hoping some other
towns and the big supermarkets follow suit.
Stuart Pearson
The concept of 'no plastic bags' has been adopted by The Government of Bangladesh
some years ago, and it works, the cleanup of streets was a great improvement!
Still some way to go but what a start and it did help the jute industry as
they produced the replacement bags. This is not the only step taken by the
Government in Dhaka, the planting of trees along the roadsides some years
ago and recently the planting of millions of coconut trees was in hand when
I left last year and it works. WELL DONE BANGLADESH!
Trudi Bryson
absolutely fantastic! please can she bring the film to ashburton
devon!!! i'd love to see an initiative like that here....well done
for having the determination to see it through and to the traders for
having the forsight to make a difference!
Helen Wilkinson
Well done Rebecca. It is great that you have brought this to the
world's notice and even better that you got plastic bags banned in
Modbury. Hope other towns follow.
Kate Harrison
well done Modbury. I always take my trusty string 'turtle bags' to
the shops and turn down the offer of plastic bags.
Damian, London
Plastic bags have been charged for in Ireland for the past few years.
The improvement in the rivers and sea areas has been incredible. Well
done on highlighting this issue and on the film.
Claire Serpell
I think Rebecca has done exactly what needs to be done, brought the
global message home and local! As consumers we need to wake up and
make changes! Thanks Rebecca.
Kate Jenkins
FANTASTIC....Would love to give this a try in the village where I
live. Just need to find out how to get started. Well done Rebecca
Jill Sutton, BagAge
Rebecca is not just a credit to Devon but the whole country. Let's
hope that this will be the start of a sea change (excuse the pun) in
public opinion and action. I for one have been campaigning to 'say no
to plastic bags' for sometime. Rebecca has shown that it is possible
to make it happen. Well done!
Pauline Randall
I think it's brilliant. I just want to keep this moment and put it in
a box!
Julia, Southampton
Rebecca, thank you! you've kick-started a wonderful idea that I hope
will circle the globe. You've shown that every one of us can do something
to help. So all you good people out there, go into your local shops NOW, show
them what Rebecca has done in Modbury, ask them to do the same! I'm going
to start with my local Co-op! I watched the Hawaii programme last night. I
was in tears. The images will never
leave my mind.
Monika
Hello. Ever since I've moved to Boston, Massachusetts I've been
interested in reducing garbage, and especially plastic bags.
Rebecca's story is highly inspiring. How can I purchase a copy of
this video. Does she have any suggestions as to how to go about doing
something similar here? What are the contacts for the alternative
material bags her town is using? Thank you!!!
TW from KINGSBRIDGE
Well done, Rebecca, you are a credit to Devon.
Mollie from Epsom Surrey
I think it's a wonder thing she has done and when I come down to
South Brent I will go to Modbery and get myself some of the bags.
Tony Brown
It's a great idea and I can't understand how anyone can dissaprove.
Turtles can not tell if a jellyfish has Tescos scrawled all over it.
Why did it take a small community to kick this off and not a
government initiative? Bring back the tartan shopping trolley!