I am officially plastic bagfree. Well almost.
If you do not count the 90 or so in my kitchen cupboard, the huge wad stuffed in a desk drawer at work or the seven loose ones rustling around under my car seat, I am otherwise a plastic bag-free zone.
My shameful collection of non-biodegradable supermarket carriers aside, I am committed to no longer accepting plastic bags with my groceries.
This came about after arranging an interview with one of Wanaka's EcoKiwi networkers recently to see how the scheme had been going since its launch earlier in the year.
The EcoKiwi scheme is being piloted this year in Wanaka, Dunedin and Wellington and aims to help ordinary New Zealanders think about how they could make small changes in their lives that bring personal benefits, while reducing negative effects on the environment.
During my interview with Megan Williams - one of three Wanaka project networkers, along with Rachel Brown and Sophie Ward - the tables were turned and I was inadvertently steered into a questionnaire-based conversation, with all questions directed squarely at me.
Feeling a little thrown by my new interviewee status, I was soon disclosing a torrent of eco-crimes to Ms Williams and realising some of the things I could be doing in a more sustainable way and some of the things I was already doing quite well.
Yes, I was recycling, but no, I was not going to start a worm farm in the backyard of my flat. Yes, I was trying to cut down on plastic bag usage but no, I was not able to cut down even more. Or was I?
‘‘The whole point [of the questionnaire] is not to suggest things, it's more about making people come up with ideas themselves,'' Ms Williams said.
‘‘It's about voluntary behaviour change . . . they're more likely to do it because they've come up with the idea.''
Indeed, without feeling lectured or coerced, I had realised, quite spontaneously, I could easily switch to reusable bags instead of plastic ones when grocery shopping.
Besides, the 126 plastic bags already in my possession would see me right for a while for all those extra handy uses they seem to have.
I signed my name on the questionnaire, swearing my allegiance to calico grocery bags from that day forth and joining the 40 per cent of shoppers at Wanaka supermarkets already saying no to plastic bags.
I felt very proud of myself.
Conversations just like mine have been taking place in and around Wanaka for about six weeks now since the EcoKiwi project got under way in the region.
Ms Williams said the three networkers had engaged in about 50 such conversations between them so far and were continuing to raise awareness of the free service by attending events such as the recent Placemakers Sustainable Day and a Wanaka Rotary Club meeting.
The networkers also hold free weekly consultations at Wanaka Wastebusters and had a stand at the Wastebusters tent at the A&P Show last weekend.
Ms Williams said transport was a popular topic in their meetings with groups and individuals, as was energy. It was an area where ‘‘people can see a direct benefit for themselves''. She said Wanaka was already an aware community and a lot of people the networkers had spoken to were already doing something.
In the meantime, I am now seven days plastic bagfree and loving it.
- If you or a group you are involved with would like a free consultation by EcoKiwi, phone: (03) 443 9235 or 027 229 1607.
