Friendly greetings from sunny South Africa! Regarding the use of plastic bags - in some parts of SA the plastic bag waste became so bad that the countless bags hanging from bushes were at one point called "Mandela's daisies or South Africa's national flower". Since then our government has introduced legislation whereby customers are charged for plastic bags and cloth bags (often branded by the store) are now sold in-store: http://www.southafrica.info/public_services/citizens/consumer_services/plast icbags.htm.
This seems to have been quite successful. Aside from this, people here are extremely creative and many forms of waste are used to make artwork which is subsequently sold (e.g: by crotcheting the bags into clothing items or stronger bags etc). Regarding green practices in Southern Africa - we are still somewhat behind the rest of the world as yet but we're working on it - we are personally, for example, working on plans to build an Eco-Centre here on the lovely southern edge of the continent:)
Perhaps some of the links on our website will be of assistance: http://www.goinggreen.co.za/GG_links.htm or more specifically http://www.goinggreen.co.za/green_developments.htm.
Have a great day!
Eunete and Simon
Mr Simon Schumacher (MSc Physics)
Dr. Eunete van Wyk / Schumacher (BSc, BSc Hon, PhD Physics)
Going Green Eco-Solutions
CC (Reg. No. 2005/135479/23)
www.goinggreen.co.za
PO BOX 27902
Greenacres 6057 Port Elizabeth
South Africa
Tel: +27 (84) 377 6611
Fax: +27 (41) 581 2066
Reducing the Use of Plastic Grocery Bags & Green Practices in US and Southern Africa
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You can find out more about this initiative and the specifications of the "thicker" bags in South Africa at: http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2003apr30/documents.html (documents) http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2003apr30/mediaStatements.html (media releases) http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2003apr30/general.html (general info) These links don't seem to be on the main or archived government pages anymore but you'll find they do still work.
Hope this helps :)
Eunete and Simon
A bit more background to the South African experience - at first there was major opposition to the idea (proposed by the feisty Minister of Environmental Affairs at the time), by the plastics =industry and supermarkets - based mainly on the argument of loss of jobs, but after much national discussion, consensus was reached and a non-profit was set up to administer the monies gathered by the retailers from the sale of the mandatory thicker micron bags. This money - many millions of rands/dollars went into government coffers but has seemingly disappeared into the treasury department as it was not 'ring-fenced' for the purpose - i.e. to assist with plastic recycling and job creation ventures coming out of it. This may be a lesson for other countries. Controversy continues around this. The number of plastic bags going out into the environment/landfill did decrease quite dramatically in the beginning, then picked up and has slowly risen again though not to previous levels. Cashier /till checkers still ask "Would you like a bag?" which increases purchase rates, when it may be better for them to keep quiet and assume shoppers would make their own arrangements for carry bags, or ask for one. These links are useful: www.petco.co.za http://www.plasticsinfo.co.za/environment.htm check the buyisa-e-bag link which is where the
Regards
Hugh Tyrrell
Tyrrell Associates
Environmental Communication Solutions
Tel: (021) 44 - 88123
Cell: 083 - 253 4100.
Fax: (021) 44-88122
Email: [email protected]
10 Nuttal Road, Observatory.
PO Box 2341, Cape Town 8000
Website: www.tyrrellassociates.co.za
There is a different implication in asking "Do you need a bag?" rather than "Would you like a bag?" If the cashiers are trained to ask about NEED instead of LIKE (i.e. WANT) it will make the customer think - even for an instant - instead of automatically saying "Yes."
Sandra D. Eckert
Recycling Promotion Officer
Environua Trust
Levin New Zealand
[email protected]
A better question would be "You don't need a bag for that, do you?" or "That should be fine as it is, or do you need a bag?" A leading question like this (statement, question) encourages a response in line with the statement in the first part of the question. It is important that the tone used is correct. It should be phrased more as a statement rather than a question or accusation. If this seems a bit too forceful then another option is something like "Are you happy with that, or do you need a bag?". But, you get the idea, don't you? ;)
Cheers
MOC
Thank you for plastic bags link. I am not familiar with South Africa's program, and am curious about the "new-style, thicker, recyclable bags". Can you forward a more detailed description of the preferred bags?
Thank you,
John Davis
Mojave Desert and Mountain Recycling Authority
[email protected]