It is one of the busiest open-air markets in France. Very popular with Nantes residents, the Little Holland market meets each Saturday on the Gloriette Island esplanade. You can find everything there, jewelry, textiles, fresh products, ready-made meals… But also, as in other markets, plastic bags. In large quantities. Several tens of thousands would thus be distributed every Saturday by traders (around 200 stands).
In addition to the wastage of bags more frankly in line with the times, a significant volume also ends up, lifted by the wind, in the nearby Loire. And the town hall of Nantes, concerned about pollution, in particular that of “aquatic environments”, has decided to say stop. The sale and distribution of single-use plastic bags will therefore be
prohibited from this Saturday.
“What is worrying about this market is its size, which is very large, and the proximity of the river,” explains Hervé Fournier, municipal councilor. in charge of markets. The subject has been known for a long time and, if we really want to be effective, it goes through a ban. It is an ecological necessity. No one can be satisfied with the situation. Moreover, 90% of the municipal decree is only a
reminder of the existing law. We simply wanted to go further by also banning bags made from bio-based materials because they are difficult to recognize and also fly away in the Loire. “
“Customers will buy less”
Last Saturday, in the alleys of Little Holland, the announcement of the measure divided customers. “There was a real need for it,” says Solène, who does her shopping with a cart. When you come to the end of the market, you can see that there are bags lying around everywhere. And we should be used to doing without, normally. This has already been the case for a long time in supermarkets. Amina also thinks that “it is a good thing for the planet”. Sandra is less happy. “I sometimes come unexpectedly while passing by tram and I still find it very practical that we are given bags. How will I do tomorrow? We are being constrained everywhere now. “
If the majority of traders seem aware of the ecological issue, many fear the consequences of changing habits on customers. Just like Abdel, a fruit and vegetable seller, who now plans to distribute kraft paper bags. “It’s a popular market, people don’t necessarily have boxes or their own bags. Usually I distribute between 1,000 and 2,000 bags [plastiques] each Saturday. Paper bags do not have a handle. Customers will be annoyed and buy less. “
“Go towards a zero plastic city”
“Frankly, the timing is very bad,” moans another seller of early vegetables. We are coming out of two years of struggle and, just as we start school, we are once again thrown in the wheels. »On the side of the
Peacock fishmonger, we are also quite worried. “The kraft paper bags that tear as soon as it is wet, it will be a disaster, fears Aymerick, the person in charge. We are already talking to customers about it, we are doing prevention, but they are still very numerous to ask us for bags. It could be complicated. “
The town hall of Nantes plays down. “It is normal that this change arouses apprehension, reacts Hervé Fournier. But I’m convinced it’s going to be okay. We want to move towards a zero plastic city, our habits must change. “For the time being, there are no plans to extend this ban to other markets in the city,” said the elected official.