Who are the "bag ladies"?

We are four resisdents of Hebden Bridge who have come together on this single issue campaign. We feel that the environment is being adversley affected by the unecassary use of plastic carrier bags and have decided to follow the example set by Modbury, Devon, and do something about it on our own doorstep.

In the press, it has been said that the 'Bag Ladies' are going to BAN plastic carrier bags -how are you going to do this?

We are not going to ban plastic carrier bags. We have no powers or interest in 'banning' anything. Our role is to support traders and consumers to make more informed choices around plastic. We have only had plastic carrier bags for 30 years -we managed to survive before that! The traders are running their businesses independently and making decisions which suit the direction they wish to go. We would like to encourage them to find the best solution for their business to combat the plastic carrier bag habit. We also have no intention of placing snipers on the roofs above the town centre to take out shoppers who have thoughtfully brought reusable plastic carrier bags along to carry their shopping. Once a plastic carrier bag has been made and given out- it might as well be reused and reused and reused and then used to separate your recycling with Kerbside. We certainly don't want people to throw them away.

How do we stop our customers asking for them?

It is up to us to promote Hebden Bridge in such a way that visitors know what the score is, and to bring their own bags with them. We need to inform ourselves as shoppers as to why we need alternatives to the plastic option. We need to go shopping prepared! And if we forget, which we can all do, we can buy a plant starch based alternative for 5p.

If the Co-op are still going to have plastic bags then why can't we?

Currently the Co-op is the largest user of plastic bags in town. From 1st September 2007 they will be actively promoting plant starch based carrier bags (5p), fair trade cotton bags (99p) and their plastic 'bags for life'(10p -see later for our opinions on these!) They have pledged that after a trial period of 6 months they will remove their plastic bags from the store IF we as customers tell them we want rid of the plastic habit.

We can express our views verbally to the shop assistants.

We can join the Co-op and express our views as members.

We can bring our own bags to go shopping with.

And we can buy their non-plastic alternatives in emergencies.

Are you going to provide us with plant starch based carrier bags?

We are hoping to use the buying power of the Co-op and piggy back their order and use them as the central trader for smaller traders to buy off. Negotiations are still going ahead...watch this space. The aim is to have a Hebden Bridge generic waste potato starch carrier bag. It will be easily identifiable and can be reused over and over until they fall apart and can then be home composted.

Some plant starch based carriers DO still contain a % of plastic to bind the starch molecules together and we are attempting to find a source which has the lowest % whilst at the same time retaining the qualities of strength and waterproof-ability. Technology is developing all the time and the pacaking companies are falling over themselves to come up with the best compostable product. As it stands we believe Bio Bags are the best bags available - for now but we are continuing to look... We have gone back to Bio Bags in Preston who have confirmed their 100% biodegradable and compostable corn starch bags are polyurothane free so we have ordered all the starter pack from Bio Bags. For further information please contact Bio Bags Limited on 01772 641 348

How are we going to get all the traders to sign up?

We are going to keep talking and finding out information and working out the best way forward with each trader. Google 'plasticbagfree Modbury' and find out about the BBC film which inspired Modbury to go plasticbagfree 'Message in the Waves'. Traders can speak to their counterparts in Modbury (contact details via Modbury website) and find out why they are doing it and how they overcame any problems.

Can we use 'biodegradable' plastic bags?

Please, please, please look deeply into the eyes of the salesman who is trying to convince you that this is the perfect solution to plastic pollution.. We don't believe it is...

-They confuse the shopper

-Although they can break up (degrade) over a period (1 year? 50 years?), plastic residues are still left in soil or water.

-They can undermine the credibility of the plastics recycling business by potentially corrupting the recycled plastic. The Co-op oxybiodegradable bags can be recycled, however. British Plastics Federation opposes biodegradable plastic on grounds that plastic waste is best recycled. Friends of the Earth agree, 'should reduce, reuse, recycle'

-Can still take years to disappear form view

-Still hazardous to wildlife.

-They do nothing to promote lasting solutions to plastic waste.

Be aware that a plastic bag can be described as 100% degradable if it breaks down when you burn it! And it can be described as 'Biodegradable' if any additives, that are mixed with the plastic, are biodegradable.

Beware of GREENWASH; language that can be used to give a cuddly green tinge to a very un-green product.

Some plastic bags are designed to breakdown into smaller pieces of plastic through prolonged contact with UV light, oxygen and mechanical action. This is unlikely to happen in a landfill or ocean. And what happens to the smaller pieces of plastic the bags break up into? In some areas of the pacific ocean, plastic particles outnumber zooplankton by 6:1. Some plastic particles attract contaminants towards them like PCBs which can enter the food chain. Please see Scientific reference in links page.

So the short answer to the question 'Can we use 'biodegradable plastic bags?' is 'please, no'.

What is the difference between ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’ bags?

All compostable bags will biodegrade under the right composting conditions.

All compostable bags have to meet European standards, EN-13432.

‘Biodegradable’ bags don’t have to meet any European standards. And they certainly don’t have to compost. So, how can we trust them as a product?

What is wrong with plastic "bags for life"?

They don't last for life, in fact a few weeks would be a more reasonable estimate. People rarely take them back to the supermarkets to have them replaced. They weigh 10x the average lightweight plastic bag and therefore have 10x more plastic in them. Not recommended by the bag ladies.

It's going to cost me money, how can I afford it?

The whole point of this exercise is to reduce the need for shops to give out plastic carrier bags at all. We will have an intensive educational part of the campaign for shoppers. With the publicity we will get (have already got!), visitors will know to come prepared. John at 'Country Stores' in St Georges Sq decided just for one day not to offer any carrier bags to his customers. They had to ask him. He gave out 3 carrier bags in one day!! When the Hebden Bridge generic plant starch based carriers become available then each participating trader will have this option to sell for the small price of 5p.Demand for carrier bags plummeted in Modbury - but their takings haven't. This could become a cost cutting exercise. With the raised profile of the town to visitors, (if the sunshine ever returns) sales should increase. And when the Co-op becomes truly on board, local goodwill should keep food shoppers in the town. This will have positive spin offs for all traders. Win - win all round..

What about hygiene issues for meat and dairy products?

In Modbury, the butcher and the delicatessen are using grease proof paper and small corn starch based food bags which are water proof. There have been no health and safety issues.

How will our precious goods be protected from the rain?

The customer will bring a reusable bag from home or use a water proof plant starch based bag.

What shall we do with all the plastic bags under our stairs?

Reuse, reuse and reuse.. and when they have lost their handles, then use them to separate your recycling for Kerbside. Kerbside need you to keep separating your recycling. We do not wish to jeopardise the fantastic and tough job which they carry out. Supplies of carrier bags that can be used for recycling can be found at EKKO next to the Alternative Technology Centre on the canal.

Customers expect a plastic carrier bag even for a tooth brush or pint of milk- what do we tell them?

Offer them a plant starch based bag for 5p with a smile on your face, tell them what a great contribution they are making towards a plastic carrier bag free Hebden Bridge. They may discover they don't need it! In Eire, a 8p tax was placed on every plastic carrier bags and the demand for them slumped by 90%. Part of the pleasure of the shopping experience in Hebden Bridge is the contact with independent traders, shoppers want that personal service you are able to give. This doesn't have to be a humourless 'hair shirt' type of campaign. Engage with the customer and make them feel special for joining in..

Why can't we continue to use recycled plastic bags that our customers bring in?

You can! We can't stop you doing anything. We would like to encourage customers to think first before shopping and come prepared with reusable bags. Removing plastic carrier bags from the high street will help to combat the plastic culture we have become so used to. We will continue to encourage customers to make their own washable bags. You too can be a 'Bag Lady'! But if you prefer to buy, there are lots of outlets in Hebden Bridge selling a variety of reusable and ingenious shopping bags for under a fiver. Stop press! Bamboo has a fantastic range of super light-weight, strong, fold out bags that can be popped in your pocket or handbag. Also check out the bags in Spirals, Organic House, Valet Stores, Watergate Apothecary, Alternative Technology Centre, Pennine Provision to name but a few.. And the town will soon have its own trader’s bag which can be ordered from Rubyshoesday to sell in your own shop. Organic House has ordered some fantastic Hebden Bridge string bags which you can also purchase to sell in your shop.