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More people are getting the message about reducing plastic bag use after Plastic Free July, according to the organisers of a Matakana initiative to boost reusable bag use last month.
Zero Waste Matakana Coast’s Josie Jackson, who held regular volunteer sewing bees to make more than 300 cloth ‘borrow and return’ shopping bags for the local Four Square, says she has seen a definite increase in people using reusable shopping bags, not only in Matakana but in Warkworth supermarkets as well.
“I’m really happy with how it’s gone,” she says. “People are definitely bringing bags back now. And a lot more people have become aware, and it’s all about making people aware.”
The ‘borrow and return’ bag scheme is set to carry on at the Four Square, and people are encouraged to return any bags they may have borrowed to help the initiative continue. Regular sewing bees will be held and the range of items people can make is being expanded to include other reusable, plastic-free items, including produce bags, small bags and pencil cases. A qualified teacher is also on hand to teach sewing skills, such as inserting a zip.
Details of sewing classes and other waste-reducing ideas and events can be found at ‘zero waste matakana coast’ on Facebook.
