2) How are plastic bags recycled, and what happens to them?
The plastic bags collected from Aylsham during the four weeks the bins are in place will be taken to a company called ‘Polyprint’ in Rackheath. There they will be bailed along with other waste plastic from Polyprint’s production process and material that Polyprint receive from members of the public. Due to the low commercial value of waste polythene, Polyprint do not make any money from this operation. The bails are transported to British Polythene Industries Plc for recycling back into black refuse sacks.
3) How is it known that it takes up to 1000 years for a plastic bag to "break down"?
Scientists estimate that it takes between 400 to 1000 years for plastic items to break down. This quote was taken from www.plasticbagfree.com/facts.php and they sourced it from New Scientist and the UNEP.
4) Do some bags break down quicker? If so, which ones and by what degree?
Please see answers to questions 3 & 7
5) Who has discovered, and how, that 47% of windblown litter escaping from landfill sites is plastic?
This information comes from research in the Litter Strategy for Victoria, Australia, produced by the Victorian Litter Action Alliance. Please use this link if you would like more details.
www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/Litter_Strategy_Background_Paper.pdf
6) Why is BDC unwilling to accept a wide range of plastic items for recycling?
The company we are taking the plastic bags to only except polythene items for recycling, hence we are limited to asking people to place plastic bags only in the special recycling bins in the Town Centre.
As for Broadland’s kerbside recycling scheme, the only plastic we are able to collect is plastic bottles. Unfortunately, there is currently no stable long term market or processing route available for the recycling of other plastics. Plastic bottles are easily identifiable, made from a standard type of plastic (and not blends of different polymers), and provide minimal amounts of food contamination.
7) What is the difference between "biodegrade" and "photodegrade"?
The difference between whether a material ‘biodegrades or ‘photodegrades’ lies in the way in which it breaks down and the materials left over at the end of the process. In the context of plastic bags there are two main alternatives to the traditional plastic carrier.
Photodegradable/degradable plastics break down over a period of time when acted on by UV light. The plastic eventually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces which reduces litter but can in some circumstances become a pollutant contaminating soil and waterways. There are lots of companies who site that their plastics are ‘bio-degradable’ but this may not be entirely accurate are more likely to be photodegradable/degradable. But as yet there are no set guidelines for companies to follow regarding this classification.
Biodegradable/Compostable bags are alternatives to polymers are made from corn starch, though they can also come from potatoes or other crops. Biodegradable bags that are compostable break down within 12 weeks into pieces able to fit through a sieve with two millimetre holes. They eventually decompose into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Bags marked compostable are the only bags that have passed a standard test to break down with a specified time span. But the bags need to be treated like any other compost – turned over regularly and kept well aerated. When they are well composted, these bags add yummy nutrients to the soil to help worms, bacteria and other helpful organisms grow. A down side is that the materials required make these compete for space with food crops, just as biofuels do. But at least they are reusable and decompose to a toxin-free humus.
8) Is one form better than another?
It is hard to say which type of bag is better than the other as each carries its own range of environmental pros and cons. We have instead provided Aylsham traders with a range of companies from which to purchase their bags and given them the freedom to weigh up the environmental options themselves. The main emphasis of the campaign has been for people to bring their own reusable shopping bags/baskets made from durable materials like jute, cotton or wicker into Aylsham when they shop leaving the disposable alternative options as only a last resort.
9) Many people use plastic carriers as bin liners. Are there any bin liners that are biodegradeable and will Budgens be selling them?
We want to remove plastic from the system, be it in the form of bin liners or anything else. Budgens and other shops in Aylsham stock or will stock biodegradable bags and there will be a list here before 3rd May.
10) Have Budgens given any indication that they will be passing on to customers the savings they will make on not supplying plastic bags?
Normally we would use over 1 million throw away carriers in our Aylsham store a year, recently we have reduced this by over 75%, and from May 3rd we intend to completely switch over to more ethical alternatives such as:
- “free boxes” which you can bring back for recycling
- “replaceable bags for life” only 10p and we’ll replace and recycle free when worn out
- “Jute bags for life” stylish, sturdy and only £1.49 each
For more information visit www.oflynnsgroup.co.uk
11) What are "corn starch" bags made of and do we know how much CO2 is emitted to make these bags as compared to plastic bags?
Please see Q7.
12) If many more paper bags are used by, for example, supermarkets, do we know to what extent this may impact on the need to fell more trees and the knock-on effect of this on the environment?
As highlighted in question 8 the main emphasis of the campaign is for customers to bring their own reusable shopping bag made from durable materials like jute, cotton or wicker cane. Plastic bag alternatives such as paper or corn starch are for customers to use as a last resort if they have forgotten their shopping bags.
13) What would you say is the MAIN purpose of the "Plastic Bag Free" campaign: A) reducing litter B) preserving wildlife C) or cutting CO2's?
The main purpose of the campaign is actually to encourage waste reduction with the emphasis being on customers shopping in Aylsham bringing with them their own reusable shopping bag/basket to carry their purchases home. Alternatives to plastic carrier bags are being promoted only as a last resort as each ‘alternative’ carries its own environmental impact that has to still be considered. Other benefits such as reducing litter, preserving wild life and cutting CO2 will hopefully be positive indirect outputs from the campaign.
14) Were you aware that one of the Links on your website appears to promote a company that sells plastic bags?
If you are referring to the Carrier Bag Shop, this company does sell polythene bags as one of its products. We were however only promoting its paper bag range which are made from FSC certified paper, water based inks and starch based glues including close working relationships with organisations such as Treeaid and The Tree Council. For more information visit: www.carrierbagshop.co.uk/environment.htm
15) The list of traders listed as supporting the campaign is impressive, but do we know why many are not displaying the poster?
Most traders who have signed up to the campaign are displaying a poster, whether it is in their windows or inside the shops. Norfolk County Council will visiting traders again before the launch to bring around more posters.
16) What plans are there for the future, either in Aylsham or else where?
There are several other towns in Norfolk who are keen to go plastic bag free and there is already some work underway. We hope that Aylsham will provide a model for other towns in Norfolk and they can use some of the experiences and publicity material to develop future campaigns. There is the potential for traders in Alysham to continue to reduce their waste further by focusing on other wastes such as other plastics and packaging and reduce their waste even further.
17) What is the reason why the recycling bins are not accepting biodegradeable bags?
The company we are delivery the waste carrier bags to asked us to ensure there are no biodegradable bags included. The way that biodegradable bags are designed to break down after use means that they are not suitable for recycling back into useful products
18) How can people who may have surplus bags tell the difference?
We are asking residents to only deposit plastic bags in the recycling bins. Bags marked as Degradeable, Biodegradable or Compostable need to be kept out. If the plastic bag does not have some text on it telling you it is one of the above then it should be ok to go in the plastic bag recycling bins.
19) Why is the word "amnesty" - with its overtones of gun and knife crime - being used when it is not illegal for traders or public to use plastic bags?
Sorry if you didn't like the word amnesty, the idea was to inject a little humour in the press releases and news. No one is suggesting it is illegal to use plastic bags, although in some countries it now is and with hope the British government will eventually see sense and bring in similar laws in this country.
20) Do you see any areas where the use of plastic bags would be appropriate?
Not really. Wherever plastic bags are used, if they end up in landfill or blow into rivers, lakes or the sea they will cause polution. The idea is to remove plastic from the waste stream completely, as we've mentioned elsewhere in these answers, and the long term aim has to be to faze out the use of plastic in all its forms. For more information on the damage that plastics cause, please see the various videos we've listed on this site and some of the plastic bag information links.
21) Also, are there any circumstances where the law might require the use of plastic bags; if so, is there a particular type that you would recommend?
We are not aware of any such circumstances. Examples like traders using plastic food bags to wrap items such as meat and fish to avoid the cross contamination of food is not something that we are seeking to discourage. We are simply aiming to persuade consumers to carry things home in reusable cloth bags.
22) What is your view of the use of plastic bags for litter picking in country lanes, on beaches and, say, Aylsham recreation ground?
Stopping the use of plastic receptacles for the collection of litter is not the aim of this scheme. We are focussing on consumer use of plastic bags and our aim is to encourage waste reduction among customers shopping in Aylsham. Whilst biodegradable options are available for litter pickers, the use of plastic bags for this activity only constitutes a small percentage of the 17 billion plastic bags given out in the UK every year.
24) What is your view of the use of the large black (sometimes green) bags used in litter and dog bins, and by householders for dumping rubbish and surplus items at waste disposal sites?
The Aylsham Plastic Bag Free scheme aims to target the most prevalent area of plastic bag use, the consumer. The aim of our scheme is to remove plastic carrier bags from the waste stream. Making Aylsham plastic bag free is an achievable feet whereas other areas of plastic bag use may require more thought.
25) What is your view of companies that encourage the reuse of plastic bags by shoppers through a reward scheme?
That's a start, but there are still no guarantees that those plastic bags won't end up causing polution, so it's better not to use them at all, than use them and hope they are recycled. We know of one supermarket that doesn't even recycle the returned bags for life, even though company policy is to do so.
26) What is your definition of a "plastic bag"?
We are asking for plastic bags only in the recycling bins. By this we mean the type of plastic carrier bag given out by retailers to carry goods home, bearing in mind we would ask residents to avoid placing biodegradable bags in as discussed in questions 17 & 18.
27) Jason Borthwick is quoted in the Norfolk press as saying: "It's not quite at the point (presumably the campaign) where people hiss if you walk down the street with a plastic bag". Presumably Jason would strongly disapprove if this were to happen!?
Probably best to read the press release where those words were, which is listed on this blog. It wasn't actually a comment or a quote, it was the beginnings of the press release and attributed to Jason. Again it was about injecting a big of humour into the project, sorry if that wasn't clear.
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