#Providenciales, April 20, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – You will be able to use your reusable bags and earn
tokens at Graceway IGA on Earth Day, this coming Monday April 22, 2019; the
grocery store is calling it ‘Staying Blue’.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands fast approach a
radical change for environmental protection, which is an end to single use
plastic bags as of May 1, there has been very little public
education; however, the DECR announced that TCIG’s education efforts will ramp
up as of Monday.
Graceway Supermarkets said: “We
believe that the key to a cleaner, eco-friendlier TCI is re-using everything we
have. This includes bags, clothing, containers and so many of the things we
throw away these days.”
At IGA on Monday, there will be a prominent display
set up in the foyer of the store and shoppers will be able to donate the tokens
they earn for bringing their own bags to a charity of their choice.
Graceway Supermarkets explained, “Every
time you bring your own bags or buy a re-usable bag you will get a token, use
the token at checkout to vote for your favorite action for Graceway Communities
to take, and we’ll take the action.”
On Wednesday May 1, shoppers will no longer get
those plastic bags that they are used to for carrying home their store
purchases. This change, in order to reduce the impact of the toxic
plastics on the environment, will take some getting used to and it may
eventually mean higher bills at check out.
At Graceway Supermarkets, the increase named the,
‘Blue Ocean fee’ will come eventually and is described as nominal.
“We
know this initial period will be difficult for our customers so we’re providing
free alternative paper bags in all our stores. But from 1 August we will start
a pilot scheme to implement a charge on single-use bags at checkout. Any money
raised will all go to Graceway Communities for actions to help the environment
and the TCI.”
Single-use
paper bags will be provided temporarily at no charge at their six stores in
Providwenciales and Grand Turk, but Graceway shared that paper bags are
significantly more expensive and their goal is to help consumers shift their
behavior.
“Real
change needs a change in our attitudes and behavior. By putting a nominal
charge on single-use bags we will drastically reduce how many are used and
increase the use of re-usable bags to help the environment.”
For
the grocery store conglomerate, the plan is bigger than just the ban on single
use plastic bags.
“We
have moved to phase out these items in our deli’s and cafe. The real problem is
with littering, so we encourage both education and change in behavior on
littering, as well as re-use of all types of items. We would encourage a
discussion on the topic of what sectors are most polluting in the TCI (power,
vehicles, desalination, construction effluent).”
Shoppers are welcomed to Graceway IGA on Monday for the Earth Day celebration.
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