SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1994
RESULTS OF "USE LESS PLASTIC BAGS" CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED
BAGS"
RETAILERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE "USE LESS PLASTIC CAMPAIGN HAVE REPORTED SATISFACTORY RESULTS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN.
THE CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN MAY THIS YEAR BY THE "USE LESS PLASTIC BAGS" CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, THE RETAIL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (RMA) AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
THIRTY-ONE RETAILERS, COMPRISING SOME 1,500 RETAIL OUTLETS, HAVE JOINED IN THE CAMPAIGN TO HELP REDUCE THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS THROUGH THEIR OWN ACTION PLANS. THEY AIM TO ACHIEVE AT LEAST A 10 PER CENT REDUCTION IN PLASTIC BAG CONSUMPTION IN A YEAR'S TIME.
ANNOUNCING THE FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN TODAY (SATURDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RMA, MR RODNEY MILES, SAID OVER 30 PER CENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED THE YEAR-END REDUCTION TARGET OF 10 PER CENT.
"THE MOST PLEASING ASPECT IN MANY WAYS WAS THAT DESPITE VOLUME SALES INCREASES REPORTED BY ALL RETAILERS INVOLVED, NEARLY ALL OF THEM HAD MANAGED TO ACHIEVE A NOTICEABLE REDUCTION IN PLASTIC BAG USAGE, HE SAID.
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"WE BELIEVE THE STRENGTH OF THE CAMPAIGN IS IN THE VOLUNTARY DRIVE OF OUR MEMBERS, THE COMMUNICATION OF THE 'USE LESS' OBJECTIVE AND THE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT METHODS INDIVIDUAL RETAILERS HAVE USED, HE ADDED.
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METHODS EMPLOYED BY THE PARTICIPATING RETAILERS INCLUDE EDUCATING THE STAFF OF THE NEED TO ECONOMISE ON THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS AND CONTROLLING THE ISSUANCE OF PLASTIC BAGS.
PAPER BAGS, THINNER PLASTIC BAGS AS WELL AS SPECIALLY CARRIERS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY A NUMBER OF RETAILERS.
DESIGNED
REUSABLE BAGS ARE ALSO SOLD IN NEARLY ALL THE PARTICIPATING SUPERMARKETS AND CONVENIENCE STORES AS AN ALTERNATIVE то PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS.
"WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN AN EVEN INCREASE MOMENTUM DURING THE YEAR TO ACHIEVE OUR OVERALL TARGET OF AT LEAST A 10 PER CENT REDUCTION FROM ALL PARTICIPATING RETAILERS, MR MILES SAID.
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TO GIVE FURTHER SUPPORT TO THE RETAILERS, THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS ORGANISED A COMPETITION IN MAY TO LOOK FOR NEW IDEAS ΤΟ HELP REDUCE THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS.
AMONG THE SUGGESTIONS ARE THE PROVISION OF GREEN LANES FOR CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE CARRIER BAGS AND THE USE OF INCENTIVES TO DISCOURAGE THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS.
/THE CAMPAIGN