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Reminder: Tomorrow is A Day Without a Disposable Bag
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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.
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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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Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
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