The campaign to rid plastic bags from the stores along Acorn Road is gaining momentum. Environmental community group Transition Jesmond will launch an online survey in the first week of December to determine whether shoppers would accept playing a small fee for alternative biodegradable bags. If the results prove optimistic, shops would be able to end the practice of distributing free plastic bags to the public.

Photo credit: Tim Parkinson under Creative Commons licence.

Following a survey among local traders, Oxfam Books, Boots and Acorn Hardware have all lent their support and pledged to begin charging for bags. Others, such as Café 1901, Jules B and Daniel Footwear have already dispensed with plastic bags.

Transition Jesmond’s Tony Waterston commented: “If shops charge, it will reduce the number of plastic bags by 80% whilst at the same time providing them with a positive image and greater savings.”

Waterston also claims that while some local residents have been quick to blame students for excessive use and littering of plastic bags, this is not necessarily the case and students would easily change any past habits. “It’s not so long ago that practically no-one used plastic bags so it shouldn’t be that difficult to revert back to then.”

If Transition Jesmond is successful, it plans to extend its bag-free zone into other parts of Jesmond such as St. Georges Terrace, Sandyford and Cradlewell.

Watch out for the online survey on in early December.