Katikati ready to lose bags
Katikati is well ahead with locally-made boomerang bags already in use before last week’s announcement that single-use plastic bags will be phased out over the next 12 months.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced the move on Friday.
“We’re phasing out single-use plastic bags so we can better look after our environment and safeguard New Zealand’s clean, green reputation,” Ardern said.
“Every year in New Zealand we use hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bags — a mountain of bags, many of which end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environments and cause serious harm to all kinds of marine life, and all of this when there are viable alternatives for consumers and business.”
Kindergarten teacher Jizzy Green and Fabric tech teacher Robyn Cameron started the Boomerang Bag project in Katikati last year, with more than 1500 unique, reusable bags made since. Jizzy is pleased with the government’s decision, but wonders why it has taken so long. “Plastic is such a heavy footprint to get rid of. I think a lot more people are becoming more aware.”
Shoppers can pick up a bag from stands around town and return them. Men are putting their sewing, cutting and stamping skills to good use and making bags.
“We’ve been getting quite a bit of help from our men — and why not. If you can drive a vehicle, you sure can drive a sewing machine. And this planet belongs to both males and females, so we have been encouraging them to join us in the bid to fight single use plastic bag pollution!”
Jizzy’s husband Mike Green was joined by French visitor Axel Benard who has been to three sessions and vowed to be at a fourth before travelling down the country.
“I feel pretty glad to learn a new skill and being able to be a part of making a better world — saving one sea turtle per bag,” Axel said. He aims to start a community of Boomerang Bags in France when he returns.
Jizzy said she had been trying to drag her husband along.
“Finally, he was brave enough to try, and vows he too will return on the Saturday sessions.”