Bad Bad Plastic Bags

Now in the season of insane holiday shopping, it's a good time to take a step back and consider exactly how many plastic bags you're accumulating. Plastic bags are a big problem for the environmental worldwide for a glut of reasons.

Plastic bag facts:

• # of plastic bags used per person each week: 16
• # of plastic bags Americans throw away every year: 100 billion
• # of plastic bags used worldwide annually: 500 billion - 1 trillion
• # of years these mountains of plastic can last: 1,000

So, what can the ordinary consumer do? While recycling plastic bags is a step in the right direction, it's even better to not use them in the first place. So while doing your shopping, you should consider using/buying reusable bags for the people in your life. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles and are an easy way to reduce your use (check out Reusable Bags for ideas).

Source: www.article99.com

“A Day Without A Bag” in LA

The first ever “A Day Without A Bag” occurred on Thursday, December 20. Various cities, including Beverly Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, partnered with Heal the Bay and other organizations for this event.

Consumers were urged to bring their own reusable bags in place of paper and plastic bags that are normally used to hold purchases.

Reusable bags were given away at various locations around Los Angeles County as part of this event. The bags given out where donated by Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, Ralphs, 1 Bag at a Time, BYORB, ChicoBag.com, Earthwise Reusable Bags, ECOBAGS, and West 19^th. Each group donated bags with their own designs and logos.

The largest give away event for “A Day Without a Bag” was at the Grove. A press conference and bag give away occurred under the big Christmas tree. Bags, donated by the County and City of Los Angeles, were handed out by a Green Santa and his elves. ChicoBags’ “The Bag Monster” also made an appearance.

Several government leaders, representatives from Ralphs and 99¢ Only Stores, actors Amy Smart and John McGinley were among those who attended this event and showed their support.

“All we gotta do is change the way people think. Put it into people’s minds,” said Councilman Greig Smith. “We need to let people know that [by using reusable bags] they will feel good about themselves, feel good about what they’re doing and help the environment. Everybody wins; it’s a no-brainer.”

Actress Amy Smart told the crowd, “Using these bags can be stylish. Personally I have a whole collection of them in my trunk.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor, Zev Yaroslavsky, gave an illustration on just how many plastic bags are used in Los Angeles County: “If the 6 billion bags used in LA County are tied together, they would reach the moon and back 5 times. Of those bags, only 5% are recycled.”

Several in store promotions also went ahead to commemorate this day. The 99¢ Only Stores throughout Los Angeles County gave a reusable tote to customers who spend at least $49.99. Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Hollywood, Beverly Center, and West LA also gave bags to customers who spent at least $50 between the hours of 11am and 1pm. Ralphs doubled the rebates for costumers who brought reusable shopping bags.

Heal the Bay started this event. According to Communications Director, Matthew King, “We’ve been worrying on the issue of plastic debris in the oceans. We were thinking of creative ways to educate people, to let people know changes they can make in everyday habits,” adding that “we got this idea after Thanksgiving. It has been a success so far, far beyond our dreams.”

The holidays were chosen as a good time for the event due to the large amount of consumption that occurs. Mr. King also mentions, “It’s a gift we can give to the environment. It’s also around New Years. It is a good time for people to make resolutions to be more earth friendly.”

Source: www.canyon-news.com

Reusable Shopping Bags

There are countless reasons why you as an every day American should start to use a reusable bag. We have studied article after article, paper after paper, and blog after blog. Other than the fact that Reusethisbag.com makes the coolest reusable bags around, you are now on the cutting edge of a unique Grassroots movement that is sweeping the nation! It is our belief that within five years over 90% of the country will be using a reusable grocery bag! Its time to wake up and smell the coffee we say!

Here are a few of our favorite facts in regards to why we are urging you to make the very important choice to put down your paper and plastic and protect your Earth today! It isn't too late. In fact, we are just getting started!

• A Plastic bag takes 450 years to biodegrade. Imagine 10 billion of them!
• The production of Paper bags causes 70% more pollution than Plastic.
• When Plastic degrades it ends up in our oceans. Incidentally, it appears much like a plankton, and is then consumed by fish. Fish eat it, and it winds up on your dinned table.
  
• The recipe for making paper bags starts with 1 part pulp, 400 parts WATER. What a waste of water!
• The recycling of plastic emits heavy metals into the air causing extreme air pollution
• An average person will use over 350 bags in a single year!
• In New York City, one less grocery bag per person would reduce waste by five million pounds and save $250,000 in disposal costs!
• In 1999 more than 14 million trees were cut down to produce 10 billion paper bags that were used by Americans that year!

The facts are staggering and we could go on and on as to why it is so imperative that you stop using paper and plastic now.

• Reusable bags save trees
• Reusable bags save water
• Reusable bags save gas and oil
• Reusable bags help air pollution
• Reusable bags help our oceans
• Reusable bags help our sea creatures
• Reusable bags save 700+ bags over the span of their lifetime!
• Reusable bags help our families!