PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAG REDUCTION PROGRAM

    

A DAY WITHOUT A DISPOSABLE BAG
JOIN CALABASAS IN THE CAMPAIGN
ON DECEMBER 16, 2010!

The City of Calabasas is once again joining forces with Heal the Bay for the December 16, 2010 campaign “A Day Without a Bag.” Free re-usable bags will be distributed to shoppers at the City’s three supermarkets - Albertsons (26521 Agoura Rd from 1pm to 5pm), Ralphs (in the Commons from 1pm to 5pm) & Gelson's (on Mulholland from 3pm to 5pm) - on December 16, 2010.

“A Day Without a Bag” is an educational and grassroots event that involves businesses and individuals throughout Los Angeles County. On this day, shoppers and retailers are asked to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags. By raising consumer awareness about personal choices, “A Day Without a Bag” focuses on education, rather than advocacy.

More than 6 billion plastic bags are used in Los Angeles County each year. Disposable bags cost fiscally strained cities up to 17 cents per bag for disposal (this does not include the environmental costs). Plastic bags are made from fossil fuels. Americans use over 380 billion bags every year, throwing away this non-renewable resource
 

FACTS ABOUT PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS
Each year, approximately 6 billion plastic carryout bags are consumed in Los Angeles County - that's an average of 600 bags per person per year!
The U.S. consumes 100 billion plastic carryout bags annually.
The U.S. uses 12 million barrels of oil per year on the manufacture of plastic bags.
 

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS?
Due to the low rate of recycling, most plastic bags end up in landfills or littered along our beaches, waterways, parks and roads.
As litter, plastic bags kill millions of animals and sea creatures each year. Wildlife often mistake the bags for food, which can lead to starvation or choking.
In Los Angeles County, public agencies spend tens of millions of dollars each year on litter prevention, enforcement and clean up. Plastic bags contribute greatly to this problem.
Carryout bags can create blockages in storm drain systems, decreasing the system's ability to handle storm water runoff.
 

ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS
Reusable bags are the best alternative to plastic carryout bags. Reusable bags typically have handles and are designed and manufactured for multiple reuse. They are made of cloth or other durable material. The widespread use of reusable bags would conserve energy and natural resources, reduce the total volume of waste disposal in landfills, diminish plastic bag litter and help to promote a clean and sustainable environment.
Paper bags are widely available in stores and restaurants. They are heavier than plastic bags and are not easily blown by the wind. Paper bags biodegrade in water and are made of renewable resources, especially if recycled paper content is used. Paper bags also have a higher recycling rate, estimated at 21 percent by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
 

HOW YOU CAN HELP!
"Just say no" to plastic carryout bags at check-out, especially if you only have a few items you can hand carry.
Choose from reusable bags when shopping. Some grocery stores offer rebates for bringing in your own bag.
Reusable bags typically hold more than plastic bags, are more durable, and can be washed.
Reusable bags are available at most grocery stores and online. Various online stores even let you customize your bag!
Remember to bring reusable bags with you when you shop. Don't forget them at home or in the car!
Recycle paper bags if you use them.

Using a reusable bag saves an average of 6 plastic carryout bags per week. That's 24 bags a month, 288 bags a year, and 22,176 bags in an average lifetime.  If just 1 out of 5 people in the U.S. did this, we would save over one trillion bags over our lifetime!

Click on the links below to learn more about plastic bags and reusable options:

www.cawrecycles.org
www.cleangreenbags.com
www.epa.gov
www.reusablebags.com
www.zazzle.com/custom/bags

  

City of Calabasas © 2012