29 June 2018
Plastic Free July starts this Sunday and the Plastic Free Jersey team are looking forward to a month of focused activity to help islanders understand how they can reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. The month is being kicked off at the launch of Hospice’s 30 Bays in 30 Days on Sunday 1 July.
Tuesday 3 July is International Plastic Bag Free Day. As part of the Plastic Free Jersey initiative eco active and other members of the Plastic Free Jersey team will be in Brook Street explaining how people can get involved, asking shops and shoppers to ditch their single-use plastic bags for the day and opt for a reusable alternative instead.
A trillion plastic bags are used around the world each year and on average a plastic bag is used for 12 minutes. As people’s awareness of single-use plastic increases we are keen to encourage different ways of doing things. The Department of the Environment is pleased to be a lead partner on this campaign and hopes it will make a real difference to the amount of plastic we use here in Jersey. There has been a big reduction in single-use plastic bags in Jersey since shops started charging for them some year ago.
Minister for the Environment, Deputy John Young said “I’m looking forward to participating in discussions and I hope this month of focused activities will reduce Islanders’ reliance on single-use plastic. Jersey must continue the momentum started earlier this year and a day to remind ourselves of the global nature of the problem will help focus our minds. I hope we can meet the Surfers Against Sewage criteria by the autumn, so we can be granted ‘Plastic Free Jersey’ status.”
The Plastic Free Jersey website provides individuals, businesses, schools and groups with toolkits that will help them reduce their single-plastic use. People can also make commitments and share their success when they meet them.
gov.je