Plastic bag petition calls for change

Thursday 18 April 2019

There's a move to make Guernsey 'plastic bag free' by calling on the island to ban all plastic carrier bags.

A petition has been launched by Plastic Free Guernsey - an organisation run by volunteers which has already led the way in encouraging a reduction in the use of single use plastics across the island.

The petition was launched last weekend and has nearly two thousand signatories already, including Rosie Dorey - an environmental campaigner who spearheaded efforts to introduce charges for carrier bags earlier this century. That has contributed to a reduction in the use of plastic bags but campaigners say there are still too many around.

Pictured: Environmental campaigner Rosie Dorey has supported the petition.

Plastic Free Guernsey said they want the States of Guernsey to "get on board and legislate against local shops from offering plastic carrier bags" and a spokesperson for the group said they have already spoken to one Deputy who wants to give the matter political prominence if there is enough public support. 

The group said; "the increasing damage to our environment caused by single-use plastic is inescapable. As an island community, we see the effects of our throwaway culture washing up every time we go to the beach - let's make a change!"

While other countries have started to ban plastic carrier bags, Plastic Free Guernsey says the island needs to do the same and that it will be an easy thing for shoppers to manage by using reusable bags instead.

Pictured: The Co-op Grande Marche in St Martin. 

Guernsey first introduced a voluntary 5p charge for each single use carrier bag in supermarkets in 2008. Businesses have donated the money to charities using initiatives like the Co-op's Eco Fund to distribute the money raised.