Ventbag

Welcome to Ventbag – The Journey of Ventnor, Isle of Wight
becoming Plastic Carrier Bag Free by 1st September 2008

First, if we are going to try to curb this pollution then we have to start with ourselves and the way we as individuals live our day to day lives. I know you’ve probably heard this all before but have a little faith and by just making the smallest changes you can make an impact and a difference. It’s the old environmental mantra “be part of the solution, not the problem”

A Minke Whale washed up dead on the Normandy coast.
Cause of death? – The animals’ stomach was full of plastic bags, and throwaway plastic packaging. Some of the bags could be identified as coming from British high street shops.(MCS)

About four-fifths of all marine litter comes from land, swept by wind or washed by rain off highways and city streets, down streams and rivers, and out to sea. Also some is intentionally fly-tipped off cliffs and dumped off beaches once again going into the sea. (Only 20% comes from boats, it’s a common misplaced blame to assume it’s all from boats) (Algalita) (UNEP)

In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, dolphins, seals, seal lions and turtles every year. (Planet Ark) (NSW.GOV.AU)

Plastic bags can be mistaken for food and consumed by a wide range of marine species. Ingestion of litter such as plastic bags can cause physical damage and mechanical blockage of the oesophagus and digestive system, resulting in a false sensation of fullness or satiation, as the litter may remain in the stomach. This can lead to internal infections, starvation and death. (MCS) (environment.gov.au) (plasticdebris.org)