Residents could wind up being charged 25 cents for every plastic bag they use, if the environmental group Greenrock has its way.

Similar initiatives have proven successful around the world at reducing plastic litter, Greenrock president Judith Landsberg said.

“Our proposal is a charge of 25 cents, rather than a ban on plastic bags, because some people will need to use plastic,” she told The Royal Gazette. “Our proposal is that half of that would go toward environmental clean-up costs, and the other half would reimburse grocery stores.”

Ms Landsberg said she sympathised with customers who found the charges irksome, but added: “The message people aren’t really internalising is that you’re already paying for the bags. It’s already embedded in your grocery costs.”

The group has watched bag laws put in place across Europe and the US, and says most people complain about the extra charge for around a month before getting used to it.

“It’s simply about changing peoples’ behaviour,” Ms Landsberg said.

The announcement came as the group unveiled a music video created by local artists, urging shoppers not to use plastic with a song parodying Daft Punk’s recent hit ‘Get Lucky’.

Directed by Milton Raposo and featuring singers Daniel (Uzimon) Frith, Joy T Barnum and Mike (Uncle Elvis) Hind, the video proved a hit with Bermuda College students yesterday.

“This is our target audience,” said Ms Landsberg of the students gathered to watch the video at the college’s gymnasium as part of Spirit Day.

Bermuda College Environment Club head Jessica Tannock took the occasion to launch a petition, which will be presented to Government, urging a solution to the plastic littering the Island and its waters.

Environment Minister Sylvan Richards said Government had settled on “no conclusion as to the best way forward” when it comes to dealing with plastic bags.

“We support any initiative that’s going to protect our environment,” he added.

Created in tandem with the Bermuda Marine Debris Taskforce, the ‘No Thanks!’ video will be promoted at TCD, doctors’ offices, banks, and other places with video screens on public view.

“We want it to be fun, educational and a message that will stick in peoples’ heads,” Ms Landsberg said.

A petition in favour of Greenrock’s initiative is available on the group’s website.

Greenrock is also mulling a campaign to encourage more people to use its water stations, where passers-by can refill their bottles with filtered drinking water — thus reducing empty plastic bottles.

So far water stations are up and running at the Hamilton bus terminal and ferry terminal, in Queen Elizabeth and Victoria Parks, Fort Hamilton and the Cavendish Heights parking lot, Ms Landsberg said.