ONE WORLD ONE BAG
CAMPAIGN TO MAKE NEW MILLS PLASTIC BAG FREE
Plastic Bag Facts
• 13 billion plastic bags are used by consumers in the UK each year
• The average shopper uses 342 plastic bags each year
• A plastic bag is used for circa 12 minutes before its disposal
By reducing the number of bags given away, reducing and recycling bags, and using compostable bags and heavy duty bags as an alternative, you can IMPROVE New Mills as well as the environmental, economic and social benefits associated with reduced waste and heightened publicity for the town. As proved already by the PBF campaigns undertaken in Hebden Bridge and Modbury in the UK.
REDUCE the amount of bags traders give away and customers demand
REUSE plastic bags in circulation
RECYCLE plastic bags
HELP US MAKE NEW MILLS PLASTIC BAG FREE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
• Look around you and you will see the plastic bag litter
• It can take anywhere from between one year and 1,000 years for plastic bags to photo-degrade
• It is anticipated that by reducing New Mills’ usage of plastic bags, there will be less litter around the town
• Friends of the Earth are supporting the campaign as part of a wider aim to clean up New Mills
WHAT THE TRADERS CAN DO
• Reduce spend on bags by giving fewer bags away to customers
• Sell the ‘New Mills bag’ – a cotton, re-usable bag printed with the name of the town and the campaign logo – One World One Bag – which will be a promotional tool for the town subsidised by the One World Festival
• Only give away a bag if one is requested
• Discover the alternatives such as corn starch; string; jute or reuse existing plastic bags
WHAT THE CONSUMERS CAN DO
• Like the scouts and the guide be prepared!!! Always bring out a bag that you can carry your shopping in for those on the spot buys – the ‘One World, One Bag’ will be perfect for this
• Really think about whether you need a plastic bag – often supermarkets will you give you a bag for the smallest items or package different items into different bags
• Reuse your existing plastic bags when doing a shop instead of always getting new ones saving on your own storage space
• When you really feel like your plastic bag has been used as much as possible recycle it
SOCIAL BENEFITS
• The campaign will bring the town together with a common focus point of improving New Mills and making our town a lovelier place to live
• Together with the fact that New Mills is a Fair Trade town, and with the arrival of the Torrs Hydro project, the ‘One World, One Bag’ campaign will add to the town’s eco-friendly profile
• By improving the profile of New Mills we will attract more people to visit our great town and enjoy the Torrs, pubs and local shops.
For more information please email Georgina Ralston and Helen Hensel at plasticbagfreenewmills@googlemail.com