Ban throw-away shopping bags
Raised by: Marilyn Mason on 08 October 2007
We the undersigned urge the Council to support the London Councils' October 2007 initiative on throw- away shopping bags by choosing Option 2, an outright ban throughout Greater London.
(Closing date for signatures - 23 October 2007)
This petition is now concluded. For updates on the petition progress, check the Petition Progress below.
Petition Details
Petition title: Ban throw-away shopping bags
Raised by: Marilyn Mason
Date raised: 08 October 2007
Corresponding issue: The Environment
Number of Signatures: 19
Petition Information
See http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp? docId=20764 for the consultation (deadline October 25 2007) and background information. We don't need throw-away bags when there are so many reusable alternatives such as hessian or cotton “bags for life”. All throw-away bags cause environmental problems in their manufacture and disposal, creating litter and adding to the landfill problem. But plastic bags are probably the worst: they contaminate soil, waterways, and oceans; they are an oil-based product, made from a non-renewable and declining resource. The Scottish Executive recently calculated that the oil used to manufacture 8 plastic carrier bags would power an average car for 1 kilometre – if we all gave up plastic bags we could save enough oil to drive 2,125,000,000 kilometres. The only thing that will stop shops giving out throw- away bags and get shoppers to carry their own long- life bags is an outright ban.
Petition Progress
This petition has been submitted to London Councils as part of the response to consultations on a ban/levy on throw away bags. The consultation closed on 26 October. Kingston Council is supporting the current London Local Authorities Bill, which includes the shopping bag ban. London Councils will be consulting Boroughs further on the ’long list’ of proposals and the Executive will be considering reports as the Bill progresses.