The Get A Green Grip Peterborough campaign – supported by The Evening Telegraph – is aiming to get all city residents using reusable bags for their shopping.

As part of the campaign, the Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) will be handing out thousands of free cotton bags to
shoppers later in the year, and it received the first bags yesterday at the city headquarters of campaign sponsor Perkins.

Staff from Perkins were out in force for the launch of the brightly coloured bags, which will be given away at the city's green festival, part of the push to make Peterborough Britain's environmental capital.

Sunit Karia, from PECT, who is organising the campaign, said: "The average plastic bag is used for just 20 minutes before being discarded.
"In Peterborough, around 37 million plastic bags are thrown away every year – a pile which would reach over two-and-a-half miles high."

The number of backers for the campaign across the city has grown, and Richard Olive, from the city's Friends of the Earth branch said: "The best thing people can do is refuse to accept a plastic bag when they go shopping – whether they reuse another bag, or use a bag for life.

"People say that individually they can't make a difference, but on an average family shopping trip people use 12 bags – that soon adds up."
He added that the city had a good reputation for pushing green issues, but people could do more.

He said: "Peterborough residents always say that they want to get involved and do their bit for the environment, and it would be fantastic if people stopped using plastic bags
altogether.

"This is a brilliant campaign, which we will be supporting."
The first success for the ban the bag campaign has been struck at supermarket Asda – which has a branch in Rivergate, in the city centre.
From June, the chain will remove bags from the end of its checkouts, and Andy Clarke, Asda's retail

director, said: "We believe this is the best way to encourage shoppers to change the habit of a lifetime and start reusing their bags."
Environment and community
services director at Peterborough City Council, Trevor Gibson, said: "Banning the bag is another important way in which each and every one of us can do our bit.

"In the past, local residents and businesses alike have consistently demonstrated their commitment
to improving the local and global environment.

"I am confident that they will
support this campaign."