Prisoners pitch in to make bags
Boomerang Bags Hawke’s Bay is piloting a Boomerang Bag world first by enlisting volunteers from Hawke’s Bay Regional prison to create the reusable borrow and return shopping bags.
Boomerang Bags Hawke’s Bay (BBHB) founder Lisa Eagle said she hoped the pilot could eventually be rolled out to other regional prisons to help other BB communities.
“We have a team of approximately 10 prisoners, the Boomie volunteers, but it is variable. The prison is only involved in making the free bags.
The borrow and reuse bags are designed to “boomerang” back to any distribution boxes in the region after use and washing.
“The Boomie volunteers will help us reach our goal of outputting a minimum of 22,500 reusable bags at 15 distribution points spread over our entire Hawke’s Bay region from C.H.B in the south to Wairoa in the north.”
The concept of BB started in Australia and now there are 860 BB communities worldwide, with approximately 70 in New Zealand, she said.
The initiative started in 2017 in Hawke’s Bay because of Lisa’s personal interest in sustainability.
“I have always had a sustainability-minded way of life.
“BB is about engaging the community, upcycling materials, reducing plastic consumption and fostering sustainable behaviour with free reusable borrow and return shopping bags.
“BB also helps to create selfemployment opportunities, part of our kaupapa, within the contract sewing industry, if desired via skill learning for any of our volunteers.”
To date BBHB have nine distribution points with 15,000 borrow and reuse bags put out so far.
“We have two different ranges. We have the borrow and re-use which are the free bags in the community.
“We also have the ‘Bought to Support’ bags which are bags we sell for $5 to $8 and they are what we are sustained on.”
The Hastings District Council has also used a novel approach to get involved with the BB initiative by recycling curtains which used to hang in the council chambers.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, a fan of the Boomerang Bags initiative, said there was a growing awareness in the community about reducing plastic use.
“We’re delighted to be able to recycle these old, strong curtains rather than have them going to landfill.
“Reducing waste going to landfill is a priority for this council and this was an excellent way to divert this fabric and put it towards something useful that other people can use to minimise their plastic waste.”
Lisa said fabric donations were always welcome, and the organisation was happy to accept the offer of the curtains which were transformed into reusable bags given to the Heretaunga Women’s Centre.
“The Hastings District Council has been supportive right from when we launched and it shows it is forwardthinking about sustainability.”