by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The world's first Plastic Bag Free Day – organized by the Marine Conservation Society – will be on 12th September 2009.
They are asking shoppers to ditch plastic bags for good and to just take a reusable bag with then when they go to the stores.
There are many ways that you can support Plastic Bag Free day.
Take you own reusable shoppers and leave plastic bags at the checkout. You could help to make your town Plastic Bag Free or join in the celebrations at town's that have already stopped using plastic bags. You could also write to shops and supermarkets asking them to support the day.
Towns in the UK that are holding events to celebrate Plastic Bag Free day are shown below. If your town or council is not participating ask them why not.
Salisbury, Seaham, East Dulwich, Selkirk, Banchory, Chesham, Brighton, Overton, Kew, Whitby, Harrogate, Haddington, Ullapool, Modbury, Helston, Lambeth, Pontypridd, Kinrossshire, Worthing, Hebden Bridge, Doncaster, Plymouth, Wellington, Chepstow, Abergeveny, Monmouth, Newport, Edinburgh, Maidstone, Saltash, Penrith, Carmarthen, Southwark, Bridgend, Market Harborough, Netherfield, Henfield, North Berwick, Kingston upon Thames, Lyme Regis, Wychwoods, Penistone, Crediton, Deal, Leicester, New Forest, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Duns
Why should we all go Plastic Bag Free?
Each household in the UK uses 300 plastic bags every year. Even when we dispose of them correctly, plastic bags often get blown out of bins and landfill sites and end up littering our land and oceans.
In the sea plastic bags look very similar to jellyfish. Many marine animals, such as whales and turtles, accidentally eat the plastic bags but they can block their digestive systems and may cause them to starve to death.
The Marine Conservation Society organizes beach cleans and litter surveys and plastic items are the most commonly found items. Plastic litter has increased by 146% since 1994. In 2008 MSC volunteers found 8,174 plastic bags on just one weekend.
This has to stop, and it is easy to change.
© 2009
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