On 2nd October 2010, the Plastic Bag Free Penrith team took did a Bag Swap for shoppers to swap plastic bags for a new PACT cotton bag.
We also asked shopper to sign a petition to the House of Commons calling for a charge to be introduced in England on single use plastic carrier bags. Almost 500 signatures were collected on the day, with more collected later; the petition will be handed in by our MP Rory Stewart.
To the House of Commons. The petition of supporters of Penrith Action for Community
Transition (PACT) in Penrith, Cumbria
Declares that the petitioners wish to see a significant reduction in the issuing of plastic
carrier bags by retailers through the introduction of a compulsory charge, as in the case
of Wales where a charge of 7p per bag is to be in place from spring 2011.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to
introduce the compulsory charge on the issuing of single use carrier bags in England, for
which it has the power under section 77 (and Schedule 6) of the Climate Change Act
2008.