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Letter to Editor
ShareIt’s in the bag?
Published: September 30, 2008 3:00 PMUpdated: September 30, 2008 3:56 PM
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce did not invent the idea of eliminating single-use plastic bags.
It does, however, deserve credit for introducing the concept to the Valley.
Some cities in Canada and some countries have banned the use of the ubiquitous bags, but the local business umbrella group is trying to persuade businesses here to take steps voluntarily.
The Bag Free Comox Valley campaign is taking dead aim at our slice of a global problem that worsens every time we go shopping and walk away with purchases in plastic bags.
Canadians use a staggering nine billion plastic shopping bags a year. Only one to three per cent of those are ever recycled because of the high reprocessing cost.
They’re made of petroleum or natural gas, both limited resources that we depend on heavily. Plastic bags kill wildlife and sea creatures unfortunate enough to ingest them.
If you need more information or incentive, visit www.comoxvalleychamber.com, or e-mail bagless@comoxvalleychamber.com.
The Chamber had to move the goalposts back on its ambitious regional timetable when it encountered concerns from businesses. A deadline of Sept. 30 for businesses to buy reusable and recyclable Comox Valley EnviroBags has been extended to Oct. 20.
More than 35,000 EnviroBags have been ordered so far for distribution to customers, which is where the rest of us come in.
If you think the movement against plastic bags – already endorsed by the Retail Council of Canada, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores – is worthwhile, tell the Chamber as well as your favourite stores.
Then be prepared to acquire and use your new reusable and recyclable bags.
Mother Nature will thank you.
editor@comoxvalleyrecord.com
