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December 19, 2007
Reminder: Tomorrow is A Day Without a Disposable Bag
We told you about it a couple of weeks ago, but it definitely bears repeating: Thursday December 20th is the day to go disposable-bag free!
Los Angeles County residents use over 6 billions plastic bags every year, and yet, only 5% of those bags are recycled. The rest end up in landfills were it will take decades for them to decompose. Plastic bags also find their way into the ocean where marine animals often confuse them as jellyfish, and are often found choking to death. Scientist have even discovered a vortex of trash and plastic, the size of Texas, floating around in the Pacific Ocean. Plastic bags clog drains and waterways not only threatening natural environments, but urban ones as well, they were even blamed for the severe flooding in Bangladesh in 1988 and 1998. Overall we know that plastic bags are not good for the environment.
Heal the Bay has proclaimed December 20th as A Day Without A Disposable Bag Day . They will be handing out canvas bags in various locations throughout Los Angeles (click on this link for locations participating in the free canvas bag giveaway). Canvas bags are more effective in transporting your grocery items, as they will be less likely to break than their plastic counterparts.
Making a difference in our environment requires an individual's choice to change their habits. The simple act of bringing your own bags to the grocery store can make a difference in our fragile ecosystem. San Francisco has already banned plastic bags, and there is a movement in Los Angeles County to do the same.
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I LOVE my "I am not a smug twat" bag SO much! Thanks to whichever reader recommended it.
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Right on baby! I use mine as much as I can! (but gotta admit, sometimes I get the plastic ones for my trashcan at home - ooops!)
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I have several of the reusable bags and I keep them in my trunk so I don't forget them when I run out to the store. (I just have to worry about leaving them in my trunk when I actually go into the store.) I have them from Ralphs, Albertsons, and Vons and the Ralphs and Albertsons ones are the best since there's a piece of plastic on the bottom that makes the bottom flat. The stores don't care if you bring in a competitor's bag and Ralphs even gives you a nickel back for each reusable bag you use.
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Trader Joe's has new bags (not the red ones) that are stronger and have flat bottoms too. Every time you use their bags, you're entered into a raffle.
I carry my Trader Joe's bags everywhere - they've got a funky design on them and they were only a few dollars a piece.
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to keep my spending down i often go into my local trader joe's with a couple of their bags that i'm reusing and i shop in them, like they were a basket. the clerks always think it's funny when i show up to check out with my bags already packed, but it keeps me in check, and i get those raffle tickets, too!
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I also shop with my bags. That way, I know I won't end up with an extra plastic bag. When grocery shopping, I keep a couple plastic bags at the bottom for wrapping soaps and meat apart from the food. If the clerk can't fit everything back into the bag, then I just take over and do it myself.
BTW, I have gotten funny looks at grocery stores for using their competitor's bag. But they can just get over themselves. Too bad I usually have to speak loudly to get them to not put items in plastic even though my bags are right next to them.
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I always bring reusable bags to the store... though I have yet to figure out a way to dispose of the kitty litter without using a plastic bag. My cats are not green.
(Elise, I told you about that bag! It was designed by a friend of a friend).
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P.S. RunChadRun - I don't know which Ralphs you go to but mine has been giving me a DOLLAR back for each one I bring. Woo hoo!
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Target has really cute red bags in two different styles.