In January of 2011, The Wilton Board of Selectman approved a $2,500 grant for the "Wilton Go Green" educational campaign to inform residents of the negative impact of plastic and paper bags on the environment. The goal, over 6 months, was to get at least 50% of Wiltonians to use reusable bags. At the heart of the initiative was a design contest to develop artwork from school children that was … [Read more...]
Walla Walla Washington To Host Best Bagger Competition
October 14, 2011 by Leave a Comment
On October 26, 2011, Walla Walla Washington will be hosting their local Best Bagger Championship, sponsored by the Washington Food Industry Association. The competition will be held at the Red Lion Hotel at the Park, in Spokane, from 3-5 PM. The winner of this competition will go on to compete nationally in Las Vegas in February, 2012. The national championship of the Best Bagger contest is … [Read more...]
Montgomery County, Maryland, Implementing Bag Tax January 2012
October 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
On January 1, 2012, Montgomery County, Maryland will begin taxing shopping bags to consumers who need them. Consumers will start to see ads and signs about the $.05 tax around Thanksgiving up to January 1. Four of the five cent tax will go towards litter cleanup of the county. Plastic bags make up the largest part of litter collected throughout Montgomery and the county pays about $3 million … [Read more...]
Jute Reusable Bags Are Durable and Fashionable
October 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Historically, harvesting jute was used to make rope because of its durability. Jute comes from the Corchorus tree and is grown in India. India is the world's largest jute growing country. It is a strong, vegetable-based fiber that also can be used as a material to make paper, cloth furniture, and even carpets. Jute bags have many uses for both packaging raw materials and as custom reusable … [Read more...]
2012 Olympics: Not To Be Plastic Bag Free
October 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Despite the efforts of Boris Johnson, The Mayor of London, environmental group Greener Upon Thames, and support from 90% of Londoners, Olympic organizers have so far refused to ban plastic bags at the 2012 London Olympics, not good news. As of August, 2011, London Olympic Organizers have pledged only to ban single use plastic bags in their own shops, and will not enforce a wider ban on their … [Read more...]
Challenge Yourself To Use Less Plastic
October 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
In 2010, Susan Beraza and Jeb Barrier created the educational environmental film "Bag It". "Bag It" looks into the industry of plastic and how much plastic our society uses every day. It is filmed in the hometown of it's creators, Telluride, Colorado. "Bag It" was released in the spring and summer of 2010 and has been a significant catalyst for cities all across America to campaign for the … [Read more...]
Colorado Supporting Reusable Shopping Bags
October 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It's time for the city of Boulder, Colorado to update its master plans for Waste Reduction. Boulder City Council updates it's master plan every five years and the last update was in 2006. Boulder has been striving for a Zero Waste Master Plan over the years, and so the current issue of banning plastic bags is on the table. In regards to plastic and paper bag usage, the city is considering … [Read more...]
Napa Valley Hosts “Better Bag Month” in October
October 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Napa Valley, California is hosting Better Bag Month in October. The county is giving away reusable shopping bags at various locations throughout Napa Valley to promote the use of eco friendly reusable bags. Napa Valley wants it's citizens to stop using plastic bags when ever possible and is doing something about it. So for the entire month, Napa Valley CanDo, a local community service … [Read more...]
Washing Reusable Shopping Bags Resolves Issues of Bacteria
October 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment
University of Arizona Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba has released the findings from a test he performed in early summer of 2010, regarding health issues of eco friendly reusable bags. Dr. Gerba tested eighty seven reusable bags, obtained at random from grocery shoppers in California and Arizona, and each bag was swabbed for bacteria and laboratory tested. The results found that large numbers … [Read more...]