Bag Week in Totnes took place from 16th to 21st November and despite the terrible wind and rain, shone forth as an unplifting week.  We ran just a few events and invited others to link in with this.  As a first time around for this event it went well and thanks to South Hams Friends of the Earth and everyone else who helped out and came along, for getting involved.  So what did we do... .

Film night & Discussion

We ran the Story of Stuff as the first part of a film night about waste, where we also showed Message in the Waves, the film made by Rebecca Hoskings which was used to bring about the plastic bag ban in Modbury.  Between the screenings we had some informal discussions about plastic bags in Totnes.  There was quite an interesting debate about how Totnes was doing in terms of reducing plastic bags and we later heard that in the wake of the film evening some of the local traders went over to Modbury to see how they managed to be plastic bag free.  However Bag Week was more about consumerism and cutting down on goods and this came into the discussion on the basis of our energy consumption which is estimated to be doubled through our use of imported goods, many of which are the cheap consumer goods.  Attitudes about this were touched on.  About 30 people came to this film night and many thought these films should be shown in other parishes to promote awareness and understanding.

Awareness of alternatives to Plastic Bags and benefits

The events were run as part of a week of awareness which included a couple of press releases about plastic bags.  In the process we contacted 30 local businesses asking shops which currently hand out plastic bags to ask for a donation to charity instead and put a poster up stating “Participating Store”. We also asked shoppers (via press releases and posters) to bring their own bag to the shops.  25 of the shops provided us with one of their strong re-useable bags (made of hemp, linen etc.) which we used for a display at the bag Workshop and at the TTT Winterfest to show that many of our local traders are promoting and supporting change.

Bag Making Workshop

An all day Bag Making Workshop – Bags for Change was hosted at Birdwood House and while not over subscribed with attendees, it was very productive.  About 14 people came along to the workshop at various times and between us a variety of bags from shopping bags, a bag cum cape and some mini-bags for the TTT Christmas Tree were created.  A teacher from KEVICCS Community College attended and asked the organisers if they would run a  similar event for the students' June 2010 activity week to which parents would also attend.  Sounds like more bags are in the making. 

Friends of the Earth responded to the request to other groups to organise events too and linked in with a photo call and press release, calling for a ban on plastic drink bottles.

Generally the week went well. The response from the shops was very positive when we talked to them and the general impression was of plastic bags being little used or requested; awareness was high.  Those of us involved in organising Bag Week felt that this had been a very worthwhile week and had increased awareness and there was a lot we could take forward, plenty to do around attitudes to waste and reducing use of plastic in general as well as plastic bags; however this would require a group of active local people to make this happen.

Contact Jacqi Hodgson at TTT if you would like to get more involved with waste issues in Totnes & District. 

Info. about the films

I managed to download the Story of stuff (58mb) off their website and its worth looking around that website as they have a lot of posters and other materials and ideas on there.  

You can get a free copy of Message in the Waves from the Marine Conservation Society.  
Emma Snowden
Litter Projects Co-ordinator
Marine Conservation Society
Tel (direct): 01989 561590
emma.snowden@mcsuk.org
I wouldn’t recommend trying to download it from the Message in the Waves website as its a nightmare (well it was for me and a couple of others anyway)