Bags say choose to reuse

Thousands of free "green" bags are being handed out to encourage shoppers to help protect the planet.

One Leicester bags are being given away to try to stop people from throwing away so many plastic carriers.

About 25,000 reusable cloth bags and 15,000 biodegradable paper bags have been produced by the city council.

People can pick them up from Leicester Market, Beaumont Leys shopping centre, New Walk Museum, Jewry Wall Museum, Highcross Leicester and the Tourist Information Centre, in Town Hall Square.

Launching the scheme yesterday at Leicester Market, council leader Ross Willmott said: "Hundreds of thousands of disposable plastic shopping bags are used every year and many end up in landfill sites.

"Encouraging people to change to reusable bags will have huge environmental benefits, both for the city and society as a whole.

"I hope they are going to be popular. I think we can be part of the tide of awareness that's now out there.

"We hope this will encourage retailers and market stall holders to move to reusable bags. Let's hope people follow our lead."

Councillor Robert Wann, cabinet member for the environment, said he hoped the move would be a "trend setter".

He said after the free bags were all handed out, the council would see whether it could then sell more to traders.

A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to completely decompose.

In the UK alone, at least 200 million plastic bags end up as waste on beaches, streets and parks every year.

Shoppers and traders at Leicester Market yesterday welcomed the environmentally friendly bags.

Kathleen Osborne, 63, from Braunstone Lane, said: "I think the bags are excellent. They go on the shoulder, which makes them easier to carry.

"I'll be taking one to Tesco with me."

Christine Driver, from Beaumont Leys, said: "I think it's a good idea – they're better than plastic bags."

Umed Miyanger, 72, from Beaumont Leys, said: "They're nice. It will help the environment as well – it's green."

Market trader Nicola Deebey, 17, from New Parks, said: "I think it's a really good idea, what with the credit crunch and everything, to give away free bags.

"With the slogan on it as well, it gives Leicester a new image.

"It's good for the environment, too. People can reuse these instead of throwing away plastic bags."

The city council was unable to say how much the bags had cost.