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 SHOPPERS in Dundee will be asked to do their bit this weekend to help the city become the first in the country to become plastic bag free.
Dundee City Council has joined forces with environmental business Get Serious World, the Overgate Shopping Centre, Borders Books and the Hilton Dundee to hand out more than 2,500 re-usable jute bags to shoppers, completely free of charge.
Amy Ridley, one of the driving forces behind Get Serious World, said: "We have been thrilled that Dundee City Council and a number of the city's major retailers have embraced this effort so wholeheartedly.
“Saturday is going to be a great opportunity for customers and their favourite stores to take a stand against the ubiquitous use of plastic bags, and spread the idea that we can all do something to help our environment by not taking another plastic bag.”
Dundee City Council agreed to help provide the jute bags, which are made in India from sustainable jute, and the campaign is also backed by the Overgate Shopping Centre, Borders Books and Hilton Dundee.
Convener of the council's environment services committee, George Regan said: "When we were first approached by Get Serious World to get involved it was an opportunity that we could not turn down.
“It is a frightening fact that a plastic bag is used for around only 12 minutes before it is thrown away and that happens a million times every minute, so knowing that the people of Dundee care about where we live, and that they can't resist something for nothing, it seemed like a perfect fit."
Karen Stewart, Overgate’s general manager, said: “It is our aim to be one of Scotland’s most environmentally friendly shopping centres and we are committed to supporting recycling and waste awareness initiatives that benefit the whole community.
“Our support of the plastic bag free campaign adds to Overgate’s impressive range of recycling initiatives which have involved working closely with retailers, Dundee City Council and local schools.”
Robbie Glendinning, operations manager from Borders Books said: “This is a great local campaign that Borders are delighted to support.
"It’s exactly the kind of initiative we feel our customers would expect us to get involved with and we hope they’ll get down to the store at the weekend to do some Christmas shopping and pick up their complimentary bags.
"Dundee is a fine city and a great place to sell books so we're happy to help in any way we can.”
Tom McDermott, general manager at the Hilton Dundee said: “We are delighted to be involved in the Plastic Bag Free Dundee campaign and are sure the project will be a huge success.
"The Hilton Dundee is dedicated to protecting and conserving the environment and reducing waste, and I am confident that people will embrace the idea of a plastic bag free city over the coming weeks and months.
"We will also be backing the initiative by giving our guests jute bags.”
Shoppers will be offered the jute bags for free to keep and re-use as an alternative to plastic bags at retailers across the city on Saturday in the opening salvo in the war to make Dundee the first plastic bag free city in the UK
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