Launch Day
Finally, we are nearly there at launch day - 12th July! In January, when we started Penistone Carry-A-Bag, 4 out of 10 shoppers had their own bag with them in Penistone and most shops gave out new plastic bags to their customers.
Now, nearly every shop in the area has joined Penistone Carry-A-Bag and from Launch Day they will be trying to reduce the number of new plastic bags they give out - many will stop altogether. There are already far more people shopping in Penistone with their own bags, and we are hoping that when everyone has received their free bag and booklet, Penistone will become almost plastic bag free.
There will be lots going on in Penistone on Launch Day - come along and join in!
More info about launch day...
Bag deliveries...
One of the main aims of Penistone Carry-A-Bag was to provide households in the Penistone Area with information about reducing plastic bags use and a fabric bag to use instead.
The Co-op kindly donated 6000 fairtrade fabric bags and we have now had our bag delivery day. Thanks a million to everyone who turned out in the rain to deliver bags, packed them with leaflets, or took bags to deliver another day. An amazing one hundred people helped out and made short work of it all - every bag has now been packed and given to a deliverer.
You might already have had yours through your door! If not, look out for it in the next week or two.
More info about the bag deliveries...
Final funding...
A big thanks to The Naturesave Trust who agreed to give us the last bit of funding we needed, in time to get the 'Shop Local and Reduce Plastic Bags' printed - our greatest cost.
Bag-making success...
Thanks to everyone who came along to our bag-making workshop, we made an amazing 31 bags on the evening! Eighteen volunteers came along to cut, pin and sew the bags and everyone enjoyed it as you can see from the photo! There were lots of different styles, colours and sizes and each bag has the 'Penistone Carry-A-Bag' logo.
More info about the bag-making day...
The problem with plastic...
Did you know that we use 2 million plastic bags in the Penistone District every year and each one could last over 500 years?
Yet on average, a plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes and only one in 200 is recycled.
More about plastic...
Penistone Carry-A-Bag
Can you help protect wildlife, save resources and reduce waste? Just carry your own bag when you shop in Penistone!
Support us
Please fill in our form, pledging to reduce your carrier bag use. There will be a draw around launch day from people who have made a pledge, and the winner will receive a box of fair-trade chocolates and a book.
Shoppers
By launch date (12th July), every household in the Penistone Area should have received a free Co-operative fabric bag with a Penistone Carry-A-Bag leaflet and Shop Local Guide. Bring a fabric bag into Penistone on launch day and get entered into a free raffle.
Info for shoppers here
Traders
If you are a trader, there is
info for traders here
or by following the "Traders" link in the button bar.
We are really pleased that nearly all the Penistone Area traders have joined up to Penistone Carry-A-Bag. They will soon be receiving their Launch day packs, including counter top cards and stickers.
Shops getting involved
Different shops will either be displaying a sign asking shoppers to bring a bag, not offering bags or using alternatives to new plastic carriers - and some are doing all of these things and more! If you live in the Penistone Area, you will receive a Shop Local guide soon which will list all the shops and what they are doing to reduce plastic bags. This list will soon be available here as well.
Supporters
The Naturesave Trust
Penistone Friends of the Earth
The Co-operative
Age Concern Barnsley (Penistone office)
Penistone Town Council
Penistone and District Community Partnership
BMBC Waste Management
Barnsley Hospice Shops
Razzmatazz Theatre Group
Mick Clapham MP
Penistone WI
Barnsley Primary Health Care Trust Public Health Team
Penistone Darby and Joan Club
Carry-A-Bag Ltd
We are a local campaign, not linked to Carry-a-bag Ltd which is a company selling fabric bags.
Other towns who have gone 'plastic bag free':
Modbury
Hebden Bridge
