THEY'VE long been the scourge of environmentalists, but now plastic bags are to be sent packing by Edinburgh shopkeepers.
Traders in Marchmont and Sciennes have launched their own cotton shopping bag after vowing to rid their businesses of plastic carriers.
Using a grant from the city council, the local eco-minded entrepreneurs organised a competition to decide how t
he bag would look.
Monica Higgins, chairwoman of the Marchmont and Sciennes Business Association, said: "For some time we have been recycling plastic bags in our shops, but wanted to actively do more.
"After some initial research, we realised that between just four local shops we were generating 46,000 plastic bags a month and found it to be a shocking reality.
"We want to encourage our customers to forego the plastic and carry their own reusable cotton bag for shopping and chores. We are offering this alternative so that plastic bags will become a thing of the past."
It is estimated that around one billion free plastic bags are given away in Scotland every year, 80 per cent of which are handed out by supermarkets and simply thrown away after a single use.
The Edinburgh traders were awarded a £2500 grant for the project by the city council.
They organised and ran a community competition for the bag's design, which was won by sixth year James Gillespie's pupil Gwen Morris.
She said: "I was so happy to win the competition as I feel that recycling your bags is very important and that people should be using less plastic bags.
"I chose to use the image of an apple as there is a large amount of fresh produce provided in Marchmont and the flower is a positive and colourful symbol of the area.
"I'm very glad to be part of the project to promote local shops for local people and I am really looking forward to seeing my artwork being used for such a worthwhile purpose."
The launch of the bag is the first of a number of projects planned to raise awareness of the environment in the area.
A community litter collection day will follow, as will joint projects with James Gillespie's eco group.
A shopping guide entitled Out and About in Marchmont and Sciennes has also been produced in order to promote the shops and services on offer in the area.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader said: "These businesses have demonstrated admirable initiative in devising such a worthwhile and inspiring project.
"The council is keen to support this project and I wish them every success."
The full article contains 432 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
