Paper or Plastic? Try Reusable!
A Day Without a Bag- December 20th, 2012.
No Plastic Shopping Bags For A Day- Can You Take The Challenge?
Thursday, December 20th is the 3rd annual Day Without A Bag. Coordinated by Heal The Bay, this grassroots event involves individuals, businesses, and community groups throughout the state of California and encourages people to use cloth reusable bags instead of disposable plastic shopping bags. The organizers of the event hope to raise awareness about how our personal choices affect the environment.
According to Heal The Bay, California municipalities spend about $25 million to collect and dispose of plastic bag waste every year. In Los Angeles less than 5% of plastic grocery bags are recycled with many discarded bags ending up in the ocean and in crowded landfills.
Single use plastic bags are designed to be used once and discarded, yet they last for hundreds of years. American shoppers use an estimated 102 billion plastic shopping bags annually. That averages out to about 500 bags per person.
One alternative to using plastic bags is to purchase a set of cloth bags. Better yet, if you’re crafty, you can make your own set of bags out of fabric from the Art From Scrap ReUse Store. We have a large selection of material that would make gorgeous bags that are not only sturdy, but biodegradable.
When you give reusable bags to your family and friends for the holidays, you’re also giving a gift to the earth.
Art From Scrap ReUse Store Hours: Tues. Wed. Fri.-10-2, Thus. 10-6, and Sat. 10-3. Check out a short video below that shows some of our fabric.
AFS ReUse Store Product Spotlight:Fabric at the AFS ReUse Store
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Rachel Palmer
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Lydia
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.