Kingsbridge’s new Borrow-A-Bag scheme successfully launched on Saturday at the weekly Farmer’s Market.

The scheme aims to reduce plastic bag usage in the town by allowing customers who don’t have a reusable bag with them to Borrow-A-Bag instead.

A survey last year highlighted that despite the success of the 5p plastic bag charge nationwide, due to the high number of independent retailers we are lucky to have in our town, around 2,700 plastic bags a week were still being handed out to customers (stores with fewer than 250 employees are not obliged to charge for a bag).

Given our coastal location, and growing concerns over the lasting damage ocean plastic causes to marine ecosystems and harm to human health, a team of volunteers has organised the Kingsbridge Borrow-A-Bag scheme to address the problem, with the support of Kingsbridge Information Centre, Kingsbridge Town Council and South Hams District Council.

Amanda Keetley, one of the organisers, said: “The bags are easily identified by a ribbon with ‘Hello Kingsbridge, Goodbye Plastic’ stitched onto their straps. A big thank you to all the lovely people in our community who contributed their time and sewing skills to make this happen.

“Borrow-A-Bag is free. Customers can Borrow-A-Bag to take their goods home, and then return it when they are next in town, either to the Kingsbridge Information Centre in the town square, or any participating shop.

“The only rules are that you return it in the same state you would like to receive it, and that it isn’t used for raw meat or fish purchases. Borrow-A-Bag won’t be available at butchers or fishmongers.”

Currently you can Borrow-A-Bag at 15 Kingsbridge stores: Alan’s Apple, Butterworths Bakery, Bochinelli, Habit, Harbour Books, Healthwise, Lazy Sundays, Kingsbridge Bakehouse, Kingsbridge Wine Room, Kingsbridge Information Centre, Mange Tout, Mint Dress Agency, Nicholsons, Nonsuch and Pig Finca.

More stores are being added soon. If you own or manage a store and would like to participate, please contact Sam Dennis via the Kingsbridge Traders Facebook page or call the TIC on 01548 853195.

The team have plans to launch more initiatives to reduce single-use plastic in Kingsbridge over the coming months. If you’d like to get involved to help tackle the sources of ocean plastic in our town, please contact [email protected] or pop into the TIC to express an interest.?