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Bring Your Own Bag

SWMP

Some of the popular bags. When Barbadians go shopping, they now have the option not only of an alternative bag; they can take time and time again, but also of taking part in a national campaign aimed at protecting their environment. This comes with the introduction of the reusable shopping bag, recently launched by the Sewerage and Solid Waste Project Unit. "Bring Your Own Bag" is one phase of the Plastic Bag Project - a comprehensive plastic bag reduction campaign. When shoppers go to those supermarkets that are partnering with Government in this important effort, they will be greeted by in-store displays of these attractive bags. The SSWPU's Project Manager Solid Waste, Sandra Prescod, pointed out that research findings on the growing problem of plastic bag use in Barbados revealed an urgent need for all Barbadians to come on board and reduce the use of plastic bags. Current consumption patterns show that Barbadians will be using 100 million plastic bags per year by the Year 2004. "Apart from plastic bags clogging drains and being strewn in public locations in an unsightly manner, many Barbadians remark that they often have a stockpile of plastic bags a drawer or cupboard at home intended for reuse but often disposed of eventually because the volumes are too great to manage," she added. The bags, which are available at a reasonable price, are also being promoted in store with the help of "real-life" Grace Girls, who represent the unit's solid waste mascot Grace Waste. The Plastic Bag Project is part of Government's overall strategy to reduce waste generated on the island and the professional communications company, Bowie Cross Advertising was selected to assist the unit with this task. Through them, the research companies - The Halden Group and Applied Marketing Consultants were hired to determine present and future consumption of plastic bags on the island and Barbadian attitudes towards their use and awareness of the problem respectively. That research revealed a need to reduce the use of plastic bags; awareness of the problem both by consumers and retailers; the view that a reusable bag was a viable alternative and that a public education programme could successfully bring Barbadians on board.