The rock goes green

By Laura Balfour

AN Olive Press campaign to bin plastic bags has been backed by a new environmental group in Gibraltar.

No to Plastic Bags (No2PB) hopes to make the enclave the first plastic-bag free town in the Iberian Peninsula.

Inspired by campaigns such as ours – and towns like Modbury in Devon – they hope to reach out to over 30,000 people.

They have already received a huge amount of support from organisations such as the Gibraltar Ornithological and National History Society (GONHS).

Pressure group Friends of the Earth has also lent its weight to the campaign.

At a recent press conference, organisers were were stunned by the huge turn-out from enthusiastic supporters.

“People are desperate to find out more about the project.” said Treasurer Lyana Armstrong-Emery.

“It’s great that newspapers like the Olive Press are spreading awareness throughout Andalucia.

“It’s a brilliant campaign and we have big plans for the future.”

Popular chain stores such as Marks & Spencer, who recently started charging for plastic bags, and Morrisons have also praised the campaign.

Morrisons have recently installed a bin by the checkouts, where you can deposit your old plastic bags to be recycled.

Logos from local businesses on the island, who have helped fund the project will be printed on material bags to boost support. These will be distributed freely to shoppers.

A similar bag is being produced by the Olive Press and will be available by both mail order or from distributors over the next month.

“Our next step will be to discuss the issue with the Chamber of commerce and the Gibraltar Federation of small businesses to encourage them to stop handing out free plastic bags.”

Some customers are worried about how they will now store their rubbish so No2PB are looking into alternatives, such as biodegradable plastic bags.
Its ecological drive can be found on the group’s Facebook page, where you can pledge to “bring your own bag.”