Border Telegraph | News | Minister praises town's 'plastic bag vigilantes'

Saturday, 26th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 12th March, 2008 09:00

Minister praises town's 'plastic bag vigilantes'

By Susie Penman

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Jenna Agate, Michael Russell and Pat Neil, a member of the Selkirk campaign, take their plastic bag-free message on to the streets of the town.

THE campaign for Selkirk to become Scotland’s first plastic bag-free zone was given a ministerial seal of approval on Friday.

Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, visited the town to see for himself the determinatio to use non-plastic bags.

And he praised local people for “doing the right thing” in their bid to have Selkirk plastic bag-free on April 4, when special cornstarch shopping bags will be given out to townsfolk.

“The Scottish Government recognize the importance of what they’re doing in Selkirk,” Mr Russell said, adding that using less plastic was part of his 10 ‘Go Greener’ pledges.

“A group of committed individuals have shown that by being active in the environment, they can make a difference,” he added, referring to those involved in the campaign as “plastic bag vigilantes”.

Campaign leader, Jenna Agate, said: “Mr Russell’s visit gives a real affirmation to the people of Selkirk that they’re doing the right thing.

“I’ve noticed that more people in town seem to be using their own bags.

“People are really thinking about it. That was the whole point of the campaign really, to help people think about plastic a little bit and their own usage.”

Mr Russell added that he was looking forward to the end of the month to see the campaign reach its conclusion next month.

“When awareness changes and people recognize what the problem is, then they act,” he said.

“Selkirk is going to be an example to other people.”

And plastic bags will soon be no more in a local charity shop.

Help the Aged has announced that it is phasing out plastic carrier bags in its shops, ahead of a complete end to providing them on June 2nd during National Recycling Week.

Leading up to the ban, all shops will host a variety of reused bags and cardboard boxes to ensure those customers without bags are not inconvenienced.

Help the Aged is looking at alternatives for customers to use from June, one of them perhaps being a bag-for-life which would be available at each store.

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