4 August 2010

Prizes up for grabs for Massey in plastic shopping bag challenge

Massey is the first Waitakere centre to take up the Bags Not! Challenge to reduce plastic shopping bag use.

Waitakere City Council and Ecomatters Environment Trust launch a campaign on 16 August to encourage the Massey community to make a difference to their environment by using alternatives to plastic shopping bags.

The two-month challenge is part of the council’s Bags Not! campaign that aims to encourage people to make small, sustainable changes to reduce their plastic shopping bag use.

“Massey saying ‘no’ to plastic shopping bags is making a big difference to Waitakere.

“These bags are recognised worldwide as an environmental hazard and in New Zealand alone we use more than a billion a year. That’s 913 kilos of bags dumped every hour,” says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.

“It’s up to us to make sure future generations can enjoy Waitakere’s pristine coastline and protected areas like we do today.”

The challenge involves primary schools and local businesses who will distribute free Bags Not! shopping bags, made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles, to customers.

Local businesses that take up the challenge and make the largest reduction in plastic shopping bag use during the two-month period will win a year’s membership to the Sustainable Business Network and a sustainable product goodie bag worth $200.

Primary schools that integrate the initiative into their curriculum are eligible to enter an art competition. Ten of the best student entries will receive a goodie bag and their artwork will be on show at the Massey library and cafes for two weeks.

The Bags Not! Challenge will be gradually introduced to other centres over the next year.

Ecomatters Environment Trust plays an important role working with the Waitakere community on urban environmental issues, and assists council to roll out a wide range of environmental programmes and projects.

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