PLASTIC BAGS: RE-USE NOT ONE-USE SAYS LOCAL MEP

Durham MEP, Fiona Hall will be present today to support Durham retailers adding their signatures to the ‘Durham Agreement’, a campaign which urges Durham retailers to trim down on the number of free single-use carrier bags they distribute in shops around the city.

As part of the agreement, signatories will agree to remove plastic bags from sight at the till area in shops by September 2008, and will then only provide plastic bags to customers on request. 

The Durham Bag Reduction Partnership, of which Fiona is a member and who are hosting today’s event, hopes that this show of solidarity from retailers in the city will encourage Durham residents and tourists to carry more durable bags when they shop – or at the very least re-use plastic bags. 

Fiona has said: “UK consumers use an estimated ten billion bags or 167 per person a year – an unnecessary and wasteful amount, which causes untold damage to the environment and wildlife across Britain.  

“I recently backed EU legislation to encourage more nationwide recycling in the UK. This will set limits on how much waste can be disposed of in landfill sites - where many plastic bags end up - and will hopefully encourage more people to recycle their household waste. 

“However, we won’t achieve these targets unless more cities take a lead from Durham and limit the use of plastic bags. I hope the ‘Durham Agreement’ is a great success in persuading people to enter into a more long term relationship with their shopping bags” Fiona adds.