Rotary Club of St. John has begun a campaign to encourage stores and consumers to change the way people shop. There's an online petition for people to promise to "to remember to bring a reusable shopping bag" and for businesses to "encourage our customers to remember to 'Bring a Bag.'"
The need for the campaign, says Rotary, is made clear by "estimates that stores on St. John collectively distribute approximately 500,000 bags annually into the waste stream and environment of the islands."
A spokesman for Rotary said a recent news article localizes the problem, reporting that the death of a whale was blamed on plastic bags in the ocean.
Rotary hopes the campaign will gain enough momentum to persuade the Virgin Islands Legislature to enact territory-wide legislation to ban the use of disposable plastic bags.
One of the first signers of the online petition was Bonny Corbell, a local, who said, "I commit to this today! I will hand carry any groceries to my truck IF I forget my bags! Poor habits must be broken…and I will start with me….today."
Another resident, Margaret Majette wants to go further. She said, "Get rid of all plastic bags as well as Styrofoam takeout containers/cups."
Deborah Ramsay proudly signed, adding "I have been using reusable bags for about 40 years!!"
Update: Among the first 75 petition signers, most are individuals. Two businesses, Walter Hobot's Green Island Breeze and Katherine Steinborn's KatiLady Catering signed on, too.
This is a great cause! We just signed on (both personally and for our St John villa). At Great Expectations (http://www.greatexpectationsusvi.com/st-john-villa/amenities/green-initiatives) we encourage our guests to go ‘no plastic’ by supplying them with grocery bags (recycled, of course). By the way, these bags also make great beach bags.
Green Island Breeze is pleased and proud to be the first store on St.John to sign the “Bring a Bag Campaign Petition.” We have always used recycled paper bags in the past, and will support and encourage our customers to “bring a bag.” Great job Rotary Club of St. John!
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Where can you buy reusable grocery bags on-island?
Exactly.
Grocery stores should have reuseable bags! I agree, no more plastic, but good point from tlt. And I know someone is going to point out that they use their grocery bags as garbage bags. I do too! It is a money saver and it reuses, but I am willing to make any change that keeps these bags from flying/floating around. As South Africa deemed it before making plastic bags illegal…their national flower.
I happen to recycle Capri Sun drink pouches and make bags out of them for grocery.I sell them..
Contact me for price or Info.Im on St.John.E-mail me.
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