Bamboo is known for its fast growth cycle and natural strength. Bamboo stalks are the fastest growing woody plants in the world. They are capable of growing up to 2 feet or more per day. Highly adaptable, bamboo can grow almost anywhere and protects the environment by generating more oxygen than other trees. Unlike conventional cotton, bamboo requires no fertilizer, pesticides or chemicals to … [Read more...]
Creative Ways To Reuse Your Plastic and Paper Bags This Holiday Season
December 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Using reusable shopping bags isn't the only thing you can do to reduce your imprint on the environment. You can use all those single use plastic bags and paper grocery bags in unconventional ways to brighten up your holiday season. There are many different craft ideas that you can make using single use plastic bags, such as creating a holiday wreath or braiding a dog leash. Donating your … [Read more...]
Seattle, Washington Embraces Reusable Grocery Bags
December 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Seattle City Council voted yesterday to ban single use plastic bags from grocery stores and other retail stores, and charge a .5 cent fee on paper bags. The ordinance goes into affect July, 2012. Low income residents that can not afford the .5 fee for paper bags, who can verify eligibility in a food assistance program will not be charged the paper bag fee. Other Washington cities that … [Read more...]
Follow Up On Aspen’s Efforts to Use Reusable Shopping Bags
December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
As a follow up to the post, "A Little Place Called Aspen", Aspen City Council voted in favor of a plastic bag ban with a .20 fee on paper bags at two local grocers, City Market and Clark's Market. The new law is to go into effect on May 1, 2012. Although the paper bag fee of .20 may not go over well with customers of City Market or Clark's Market, the fees are expected to generate between … [Read more...]
Reusable Shopping Bags Just Make Sense
December 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
We all know how environmentalists feel about the distribution of plastic bags, and we have read many reports containing figures about plastic bags. Respected environmentalist authorities such as Tree Hugger, Save Our Shores, and Texas Campaign for the Environment, share facts such as 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed and discarded annually worldwide, and of those, 380 billion … [Read more...]
Reusable Shopping Bags A Great Beginning
November 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
You have probably noticed more and more retailers offering reusable shopping bags at the check out aisle for sale. You may also have been hearing news of more and more cities throughout the United States lobbying to ban retailers from offering customers plastic bags at check out. There are a lot of good reasons for this you may not be aware of. Politicians do a pretty good job of not bringing … [Read more...]
Leatherback Turtles Seen In Monterey Bay
November 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The Leatherback turtle is an ancient reptile that has existed, almost unchanged, since before the dinosaurs. A small group of Leatherbacks travel the Pacific, from as far away as Papua New Guinea looking for jelly fish on the Central Coast. They arrive in late summer, early fall, along the California coast. The number of Leatherbacks were higher this year in California because the number of … [Read more...]
Chicago Aldermen Looking To Ban Plastic Bags
November 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The city of Chicago is comprised of 50 wards or legislative districts. Each ward elects one Alderman. The 50 Aldermen comprise Chicago's City Council, who along with the Mayor of Chicago, govern the city. Joe Mareno, Chicago Alderman of the First Ward, wants to ban plastic bags in Chicago. The city of Chicago currently requires businesses to give customers the opportunity to recycle their … [Read more...]
Save the Plastic Bag Coalition Sues Santa Cruz
November 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Save the Plastic Bag Coalition is suing Santa Cruz County to fight the plastic bag ban they just passed in September, 2011. The ban in Santa Cruz applies to supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores and prohibits free plastic bags from being handed out with each purchase. Grocery shoppers also have a tax applied for a paper bag if they ask for them. Other cities in California that have … [Read more...]
Save the Plastic Bag Coalition Taking Action Against Plastic Bag Bans
October 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Save the Plastic Bag Coalition said it would ask the First District California Court of Appeal to overturn a bag ban in unincorporated areas of Marin County, California. The ban is to formally begin in January 1, 2012. In the Marin County ban, there is a paper bag tax if customers choose paper bags, but Marin County would prefer it's residents bring their own reusable shopping … [Read more...]