A local surf group on Vancouver Island has chalked up another victory in its .

The people behind Surfrider Pacific Rim 害羞草研究所� a coalition passionate about cleaning up the ocean and beaches 害羞草研究所� have convinced businesses in both Tofino and Ucluelet to discontinue using plastic bags and instead only use re-useable cloth bags or paper.

害羞草研究所淭he Tofino Co-op alone would give out over 76,000 bags per year, that害羞草研究所檚 a lot of plastic that害羞草研究所檚 being saved from landfill, litter, the beach and ocean,害羞草研究所� said Surfrider Pacific Rim chair Michelle Hall. 害羞草研究所淗uge kudos to all of the businesses whom currently do not hand out plastic bags at check out. We want to hear from you and celebrate and learn from you to help other businesses in the community make the transition.害羞草研究所�

Following in the footsteps of the Ucluelet Co-op, , the Tofino Co-op will offer paper bags for 10 cents each, reusable cloth bags for $1, and free cardboard boxes to cart groceries home in, according to Surfrider Pacific Rim chair Michelle Hall.

Hall added free re-useable bags created by Surfrider害羞草研究所檚 Stitch 害羞草研究所榥害羞草研究所� Beach group will be available at the Co-op害羞草研究所檚 entrance.

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害羞草研究所淭o date we have made and donated close to 2,000 bags for the community,害羞草研究所� Hall beamed. 害羞草研究所淧eople are aware that single use plastic is a problem of our generation, and that it isn害羞草研究所檛 going to go away overnight. So small changes in personal consumerism, like a single use plastic bag will bring more awareness and inspiration to think, 害羞草研究所榃hat next?害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�

Anyone with clean bags to donate can drop them off at either the Tofino or Ucluelet Co-ops.

Hall said moving on from plastic bags should be a no-brainer by now as West Coasters are well aware of what discarded plastics do to beaches and sea life.

害羞草研究所淧lastic bags were invented as a convenience for shopping, part of the throwaway lifestyle before we knew better. But now we all do know better,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e remember to bring our very own personalized reusable bag to the store, our cups to the coffee shop and our water bottle to the beach. I love seeing all of the different art, and colours and choices that people have for their re-usables. It害羞草研究所檚 what defines us. What doesn害羞草研究所檛 define us, is a wasteful throwaway community, a polluter of the ocean, and a threat to the marine life and food security.害羞草研究所�

Expanding the movement

Hall is in Victoria this week to help lobby for a plastic bag ban in the province害羞草研究所檚 capital.

害羞草研究所淚t makes sense for Victoria to lead the way as the capital of B.C., so that it can support all of the communities in BC who might have struggled with the resources to research and enforce a ban,害羞草研究所� she said adding Victoria chapter manager for Surfrider Vancouver Island Gillian Montgomery has been working on banning plastic bags for several years.

害羞草研究所淭his will allow for communities like Pacific Rim to follow suit, and have the tools and resources to present to council to enforce a ban here. In the meantime, Surfrider are working with businesses to support voluntarily moving away from plastic bags, and helping to educate and provide alternatives.害羞草研究所�

She said she has reached out to Tofino mayor Josie Osborne and is researching other communities that have banned plastic bags, but that education must come first.

害羞草研究所淔or Surfrider, it害羞草研究所檚 important not to seek a bylaw before getting the education and support out to the community,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e have already proven that so many businesses are seeking ways to move away from single use plastics, and want to be involved. That害羞草研究所檚 when success and change happen, when the community are behind the campaign, and we know that so many of the community are.害羞草研究所�

She noted Tofino害羞草研究所檚 municipal council supported a voluntary plastic bag ban in 2007.

害羞草研究所淟ots of amazing people in this community fought to make plastic bags a thing of the past then, but with no bylaw in place, it cannot be enforced,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 think, it害羞草研究所檚 time to harness that energy that was created back in 2007, that had councillors in agreement that petrochemical-based, single-use plastic bags should be banned, this time with a little more muscle and Surfrider stoke.害羞草研究所�

She said a survey will begin circulating this month to collect information on plastic bag use and ideas for transitioning away from them.