A DAY WITHOUT A BAG GOES COUNTYWIDE

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More than 25,000 reusable shopping bags to be given away Dec. 16

 

December 16, 2010 (San Diego)--To promote “green’” shopping for the holidays and beyond, San Diego County has declared Thursday, Dec. 16, “A Day Without a Bag,” with shoppers encouraged to forgo single-use bags, and retailers and volunteers planning to give away more than 25,000 reusable shopping bags at locations throughout the region.

 

“We’re coming up on a season when a huge number of bags are consumed, along with wrapping paper and other materials,” said County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price. “A Day Without a Bag will help all shoppers do their part to reduce the environmental harm of disposable bags.”

 

On Dec. 16, shoppers can pick up a free reusable bag at over 100 locations, including several major grocery store chains, while supplies last.

 

Each year, about 1.7 billion plastic bags – or an average of 500 bags per person – are used in San Diego County, according to the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, which joins the County and several cities and regional environmental groups in sponsoring A Day Without a Bag. Nationally, fewer than 5 percent of plastic shopping bags are recycled, and some end up in the ocean and other waterways, where they threaten marine life.

 

Day Without a Bag events were first held locally in 2008, and a recent proclamation by the County Board of Supervisors declared the Countywide focus for the first time this year.

 

By promoting the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – the County aims to preserve landfill space, conserve resources and decrease pollution. This year, the County recycled over 3,000 used tires collected at community events and helped residents reuse household materials, such as furniture and working appliances, through its informational database at www.wastefreesd.org and a recycling hotline at 1 (877) R-1-EARTH.

 

To learn more about A Day Without a Bag and to find retailers and other groups participating in the reusable bag giveaway, visit www.NoBagDaySD.org
 


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