International Plastic Bag Free Day

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is working hard to make sure Plastic Bag Free day on 12 September 2009 is a success around the UK. On the day, its hoped shoppers everywhere will be persuaded to ditch plastic bags for good, and to take reusable bags with them instead.

Dr Sue Kinsey, MCS Pollution Programme Manager said, “We need as many people as possible to take part to make the day a success and show that one of the most preventable forms of plastic litter can easily be stopped. Plastic bags are a menace to marine wildlife and blight our landscape. Groups as far afield as Canada and Hawaii are taking part and making this a truly international day!”

More Information
The MCS is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life. Through education, community involvement and collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide, the Good Fish Guide and Fish on Line on sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend, Adopt-a-Beach and Basking Shark Watch. Click here to find out more.

The impetus for a Plastic Bag Free Day came from the Plastic Bag Free Google Forum, a group of individuals and communities who are working to make their local areas Plastic Bag Free.

MCS has been heavily involved with the Plastic Bag Free campaign since its beginnings and has provided evidence to the Welsh and Scottish governments to support initiatives to reduce plastic bags, given extensive input into the Daily Mail’s ‘Banish the Bag’ campaign and hosts the list of towns that are or are in the planning stages of going Plastic Bag Free on the MCS website .

The Marine Conservation Society has prepared a free pack to help anyone who wants to make their community Plastic Bag Free. For more information, to find out how you can get involved click here.
To find out which towns are already involved, click here.

Thanks to MCS - 11/09/09