Waste Campaigns

Kinghorn and Burntisland: Plastic Bag Free by 2009

Friends of the Earth Fife are working with Sustainable Communities Initiatives (SCI) to make Kinghorn and Burntisland plastic bag free. We would like to see the end of free plastic bags in our local shops and will support retailers who ban them.

Please sign our petition to register your support for a plastic bag ban in the towns!

Plastic bags are a major source of litter in our community - the photos shown below were all taken in Kinghorn recently. The bags also harm wildlife - birds and sea creatures can get caught up in them or accidentally eat them. And - as if that isn't enough - plastic bags are made using oil and a variety of damaging chemicals, and take hundred or even thousands of years to degrade.

Plastic bag litter in Kinghorn.

What can you do to help? Its very simple... you can help us make a difference by

Refusing plastic bags when you shop – and explaining why! You will soon get into the habit of remembering to take a reusable bag with you.
Sign our petition to register your support.
Tell as many people as you can about the plan to make Kinghorn and Burntisland plastic bag free by 2009.

Our campaign has already attracted the support of many community groups and local people, including the local councillors Susan Leslie and George Kay (both of Fife Council), and Burntisland Community Council. We are currently working with shopkeepers, community groups and local schools to explain the goals of the campaign - to replace all disposable plastic bags with reusable bags, recycled paper bags or biodegradable cornstarch bags. Our campaign was even mentioned in a recent BBC news article!

It is possible to make a difference. The town of Modbury in Devon is a great example - in 2007 it became Britain's first plastic bag free town.

Waste in Fife

The Recycle in Fife page of this website is full of tips and links to help you Reduce, Re-use and Recycle in Fife.

Friends of the Earth can also offer community groups free training sessions on reducing waste as part of the CREW project.