The grocery store threshold has a recollective property. As in, you cross it and realize that you’ve forgotten to grab even one of your 25 cloth bags from their front hall closet nesting spot.
With single use plastics gradually making their exit from popular usage (the federal government announced Monday that it’s planning a Canada-wide ban of some single-use plastics by 2021), at least two local food stores have phased out plastic bags (the Ruddy Potato and Snug Cove General Store).
At the General Store, the threshold’s recollective property is offset by a bin just outside its door. The borrow a bag box. The idea is bring down the bags you never use so that anyone may use them (including you).
The Orchard Recovery Center, in an effort to support the bag ban, decided to donate some reusable bags to the General Store’s borrow a bag program.
“Our accountant Lynne saw that the General Store was getting rid of using plastic bags, and she had the idea that we should help with that initiative,” said an Orchard spokesperson over email. “As an organization, we are always trying to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as give back to community.”
They dropped the bags off Friday.
Reusable BagsThe Orchard’s co-founder, Lorinda Strang, was too inspired to help out by a recent trip to New Zealand where there’s a strict deadline to stop using plastic bags.
The Orchard also recently phased out plastic water bottles in favour of reusable metal ones for clients hiking or gardening.
Bronwyn Beairsto / Bowen Island Undercurrent