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Plastic Bag Reduction Committee Being Formed
The Zero Waste Action Team is taking the lead in forming a Plastic Bag Reduction Committee. The Committee will be comprised of the members of the EarthWise Waste Working Group, retail owners, school boards and interested citizens. The goal is to work with all sectors to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags in our community by a minimum of 50%. In May, 2007, the Ontario Government targeted a goal of reducing the use of plastic shopping bags by 50% by 2012. Ontarians use 7 million plastic shopping bags a day or 4 bags per person per week. That amounts to more than 55 million plastic bags used in Thunder Bay every year and less than 1% are recycled. Many end up as litter. If we use our reusable bags for just half of our shopping, that would be more than 20 million less bags a year! For more information about the Plastic Bag Reduction Committee contact Janice at zwatcentral@yahoo.com.
“Take An Old Bag Shopping” Campaign Winners!
The ZWATeam and EcoSuperior have committed to working together to increase the use of reusable bags and reduce and eliminate the use of plastic bags in Thunder Bay. In November, we partnered with Quality Market to hold a reusable bag promotion. People using reusable bags put their names in a ballot box at the two Quality Market stores for a chance to win $200.00 in free groceries. On December 21, a lucky winner was drawn at each store: Linda Aho who shopped at the County Fair Mall Quality Market Store and Peter Raffo who shopped at the Centennial Square Quality Market Store. Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone using reusable bags in our community. Stay tuned for more promotional contests in 2008!
Ontario Government Aiming For 50% Reduction in Plastic Bags Use Over Next Five Years!
According to the Ontario Government’s May, 2007 Press Release:
*Ontarians use 7 million plastic bags each day-4 bags a person per week
*The Provincial Government wants Ontarians to cut in half the number of plastic shopping bags they use over the next five years
*The Ontario government has formed a partnership with the Recycling Council of Ontario and grocer and retail associations to come up with a system of consumer incentives to meet the target
*Many retailers have already begun to sell reusable bags and offer goodies to customers who use them
*The recycling council will work with all retail businesses-from large grocery stores to small corner stores & to provide incentives such as store points than can be redeemed for products, air miles or cash to customers who receive reusable cloth or canvas bags.
*If the carrot doesn't work, the Province can regulate tougher measure such as bag fees or bans
*plastic bags are a major source of litter-we see them everywhere"
Plastic bags take between 20 and 1,000 years to break down in the environment. Plastic cannot be burned or buried safely. When it is burned, it produces fluorocarbons which are carcinogens. When buried it blocks the natural supply of air and water to the soil. This affects plant life directly and the chain of life indirectly. Plastic bags clog sewage pipes and often cause water to be stagnant. They reduce the water-retaining capacity of the soil and this in turn affects the water table. Millions of birds and mammals are reported killed each year from ingesting plastic bags. ZWAT members are committed to reducing Thunder Bay's environmental footprint. This is the legacy we want to leave to the next and future generations.