Selfsufficientish.com

According to the business section of the Evening Argus (05.06.2007), shop keepers are coming together to turn one of Brighton's shopping districts into a plastic bag-free zone.

Traders in Brighton's busy North Laine are looking to boost their green credentials by introducing cotton bags.

The bags, which will advertise the trendy North Laine, will be distributed amongst the 300 - member - strong North Laine Traders Association who will either give them out to customers or charge a small fee.

If the scheme was inspired by a scheme adopted in Modbury where 43 shops (including a supermarket) to rid the Devon town of plastic by issuing reusable bags and biodegradable tubs and carrier bags.

When the scheme comes on stream later this year it will be the first time such an iniative has been achieved on such a scale anywhere in the UK.

Brighton's North Laine - Kensington Gardens:

~YAY good for brighton.

I watched a programme recently about the bags in Modbury and was really inspired by watching the woman that made it happen talk about how and why she was doing it.

I also watched another programme recently about Ju-Ju in the lanes area of Brighton... they were being advised on ways to bring their business back from very low sales to a booming business... it looked like they succeeded, and I really enjoyed looking at Brighton, having lived there for a few years.

Things are changing. I went into W H Smiths and then into Woolworths. Both times the shop person handed me my purchases unwrapped, when she noticed I already had a bag.
:)

I work in retail, and try to discourage people from having bags with their purchases.
It seems sometimes that people feel they haven't been shopping unless they have bags and
bags hanging off their arms though!!

In my staffroom, we have a plastic bag container, so when members of staff go shopping,,
they can take a carrier. Every month, if there are any in there, we take them to be recycled.

YEY!!!!

I used to live in Lewes, just down the road from Brighton... I keep hearing all these great things going on there. It's a "transition town" too

Trinity
x

There was a report from Lewes on Radio 4, You and Yours, today.

Yes, it's being discussed over on PowerSwitch