PE film and flexibles group British Polythene Industries (BPI, Greenock, Scotland / UK; www.bpipoly.com) has donated more than 20,000 plastic refuse sacks and body bags to assist the disaster relief efforts in Haiti. BPI was approached by Oxfam (Oxford, Cowley / UK; www.oxfam.org.uk) in early February and the sacks were flown to Haiti on 5 February. The full consignment comprised 10,000 clinical waste bags, 10,000 household waste bags and 500 body bags. The clinical waste bags were the same as those used in UK hospitals. All the bags had been manufactured from blends of virgin PE and recycled PE at the BPI plant in Heanor, Derbyshire.

BPI said Oxfam were desperate to get hold of the sacks, particularly the clinical waste sacks and the body bags. It was the largest request of this kind BPI has ever received.