Matakana residents launched their own community-run Boomerang Bag scheme last July. Shoppers who don’t have their own reusable bags can now borrow a fabric bag made by Boomerang Bags, then return it when they’re done. “It’s super exciting, but we need help with sewing and cutting,” says local resident and founder Josie Jackson. Sewing bees were held at the local school and community hall to manufacture enough bags for locals. Organisers launched the scheme in July to coincide with ‘Plastic Free July’, an initiative aimed at cutting single-use plastic bag, bottle and container use across 130 countries. Way to go Matakana!
There’s a broader campaign gaining traction in Raglan. Plastic Bag Free Raglan aims to make the town completely free of single-use plastic bags by 2019. They’ve developed their own certification for local businesses who ditched the plastic and have so far managed to bring on loads of local businesses including hardware stores, supermarkets, bakeries, hair salons, and even the local vet clinic.
Read all about Plastic Bag Free Raglan’s stellar effort here: https://plasticbagfreeraglan.nz/
Meanwhile, another awesome anti-plastic initiative is gaining solid support on the island. Plastic-Free Pantry delivers whole foods like nuts, grains, pasta, rice, dried fruits and seeds to Waiheke residents in plain paper bags. They also sell a range of glass storage jars to help you do without plastic.
So what’s next New Zealand? If you find yourself inspired by these stories about community-driven change, then why not get something going in your corner of NZ? Perhaps you have already. If so we’d love to hear from you – drop us a line.
You can help the “Bags Not” movement to gain momentum by sharing our website on social media.
And next time someone offers you a plastic bag at the checkout, you can just say “Bags Not”.
