Net-curtain vege bags the next step for ‘Plastic bag-free Whangarei’

Plastic bag-free Whangarei has now introduced net-curtain vegetable and fruit bags in its latest initiative to help cut down the use of plastic bags in the city.

Having completed an encouraging plastic bag-free July the Whangarei environmental group is looking to introduce the new style reusable bags to get more people interested in taking up the cause.

”We've had huge support from market customers and other Plastic Bag Free groups since offering reusable bags at the Whangarei market for a few months now,” says Plastic bag-free Whangarei spokesperson Tammy Fromont.

“What we have started is gaining momentum and finding favour with people who are really pleased to be involved. We want to keep it growing and get even more people interested in using reusable bags so we’ve come up with a new way of giving them a bag which doesn’t cost the earth.”

Made from net curtain material off cuts, the new-look bags will appeal to people who like the clear see-through look and being logo free.

The group says it also pleased that Countdown Regent supermarket has joined in by offering customer smaller bags which are 25% less plastic while the Ngunguru supermarket in Tutukaka and the Whangarei Warehouse have embraced the movement.

However, the group have noticed that a lot of plastic bag use at the market can be attributed to customers not taking enough reusable bags with them.

“It looks like an average requirement is three to four - so if everyone throws a few more bags in, and also get into the habit of making sure they have them ready to go the night before we should see even less plastic leaving the market,” says Tammy.

“It would also be great if we could get more vendors at the market to join as well and pick up the concept.

“In the meantime we’d like to hear from other groups and towns in Northland who are also involved in going plastic bag-free,”

The group will announce its next environmental conservation initiative once the net-curtain bag project is established at the Whangarei market.

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