More than 1,800 people have signed a petition to have single use plastic bags banned in the Isle of Man.

It is hoped that the petition will result in breaking the habit of handing out free bags, which some residents feel is ’encouraging people to forget to bring a reusable one’.

Creator of the campaign, Wendy Stevens, is concerned about the impact plastic is having on oceans around the world and believes the island can do more to protect the environment.

’I started the petition when I realised the island, although given UNESCO Biosphere status, seemed to be lagging far behind many other countries when it came to the issue of plastics.

’I’ve watched cashier after cashier hand out plastic bags. Sometimes one item is already bagged up before it’s even paid for and I was disappointed with the answers I got when I asked why we were not charging for bags like so many other countries.

’However, I’m delighted to see that finally people are starting to be aware of the plastic problem.

’I’ve noticed in the last month or so a definite increase in interest in the issue of plastic and have noted a few small businesses have changed their packaging from plastic to paper or card.

’I also believe Shoprite have committed to banning plastic bags. This is massive and gives me great hope that we will see positive change in the island.’

The petitioner, who lives in Colby, has been collaborating with Sustain Our Seas (SOS), which is a Manx environmental group that works towards protecting the oceans by raising awareness through art exhibitions and other creative projects.

devastated

She said: ’I have a love of the sea and have two grown-up children who also have a massive love and respect of the oceans. For instance, my daughter is an ocean scientist. We’re devastated by the catastrophic damage we’ve done to the world’s oceans from our reliance on single use plastics.

’About 160,000 plastic bags are used every second world wide and more than one trillion bags are used every year, each one for on average 12 minutes.

’Plastic is the largest source of ocean litter and accounts for the death of approximately one million sea birds, one hundred thousand whales, dolphins, seals and turtles per year.

’Micro plastics have also become a very real threat to our own health,’ she explained.

In the island, retailers Boots and M&S have charged for carrier bags for many years. And Tesco has used the charge for bags to donate back into the Manx community through the blue token system, where three organisations share the proceeds.

Shoprite has also announced that free plastic bags will end on March 5 and that the cost of single use plastic bags will be at 5p and a bag for life at 10p, with the money raised going towards its nominated charity - Project 21.

You can search for the petition at www.change.org/p/ban-the-bag-isle-of-man-ban-single-use-plastic-bags