All posts by Bulletin Bag

Plastic Bag Recycling? Not So Fast …

Green Issues, Plastic Bag Bans, ,

thoughtfully_committed_citizens.jpgLast month, we wrote about a draft ordinance in Portland, Maine, to ban plastic bags. While it ultimately didn’t take off here (yet!), it has definitely gotten the community talking.

Local landfill and waste managers are speaking up about the damage that plastic bags are doing at their facilities. Three years ago, we first talked about how plastic bags wreak havoc at recycling facilities. Well, that problem hasn’t gone away. C’mon. You really can’t be surprised.

Even though there is a recycling symbol on plastic bags, and even though modern recycling technology makes it possible recycle almost any household item, plastic bags should not be recycled in your curbside bins. Automated single-stream recycling equipment can’t sort them—even if they don’t blow away first.

Continue reading →

Buying Bulk? Folding Reusable Bags A Popular Option

Bulletin Bag Products, Promotion Ideas,

Our clients often come to us not quite sure of what bag they want to put their messaging on. We pride ourselves on truly listening to what matters to you—budget, colors, corporate identity, and more—and make thoughtful recommendations for bags that will work best for YOU.

cg_latitudes_pictureBulletin Bag [.com]’s current trending is pointing largely towards foldable reusable bags. People love the portability and ease of a bag that can be folded up or stuffed into a pouch. If your recipients love the bag, they’ll want to use it—which increases the number of times your message is seen! It’s a win-win-win!

Continue reading →

Hemp Reusable Bags Made in the USA: Closer to Reality?

Green Issues,

industrial_hempThe Kentucky House of Representatives has passed a bill that creates an administrative framework for industrial hemp production in Kentucky.  The bill passed by an overwhelming 88-4 majority. The Senate concurred in a House floor amendment, 35-1.

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said, “By passing this bill, the General Assembly has signaled that Kentucky is serious about restoring industrial hemp production to the Commonwealth and doing it in the right way. That will give Kentucky’s congressional delegation more leverage when they seek a federal waiver allowing Kentucky farmers to grow hemp.”

Proponents of the bill cite its potential to help Kentucky’s farmers and bring thousands of jobs to the state, should the federal government lift the ban on the crop.

Continue reading →

Another Plastic Bag Ban: Portland City Council to Draft Ordinance

Green Issues, Plastic Bag Bans,

Plastic grocery bags could soon be a thing of the past in Portland, Maine.

Ban On Plastic Grocery Bags Gaining MomentumThe City Council has formed a workgroup tasked with drafting an ordinance to reduce the use of plastic grocery bags. The group is comprised of people representing Environment Maine, the Maine Restaurant Association, the Maine Audubon Society, and the Maine Grocers Association—as well as local business owners and residents. The group is considering both bag bans and fees.

Continue reading →

#WashYourBags To Win A Bag!

Bulletin Bag Products, Green Issues, Promotion Ideas,

washyourbags-finalRenewed interests in the “studies” claiming reusable grocery bags are causing illness (and even—gasp—death) are driving us crazy. You just can’t believe everything you read—especially when a group with financial interest in the plastic bag industry is involved in its funding and/or administration!   While the plastics industry would like us to believe that going back to single-use plastic bags is the only solution, we all know that reusable bags do NOT cause illness.

To spread the word about washing your reusable bags, Bulletin Bag [.com] is giving away 100 cotton reusable bags!  The rules are simple, and entering will ultimately help the environment. Just tweet your pledge to #WashYourBags to us @baglady207. If you’re not on Twitter yet, just sign up and follow @BagLady207 (that’s us!). C’mon…let’s put an end to scare tactics designed to get us to switch back to plastic bags!

FMI, visit the contest info page here.

Reusable Cotton Tote Bags: Why We Love Them

Bulletin Bag Products, Promotion Ideas,

thoughtfully_committed_citizens.jpgNow that our #WashYourBags Twitter campaign is underway, we wanted to share why we chose a cotton bag for our giveaway item.

Cotton is by far our favorite reusable bag material, in part because cotton is machine washable and dryer safe. And, since we know you’re washing your reusable bags regularly, it’s doesn’t get much easier than that! Cotton is also a strong, durable, renewable resource that is widely available in the USA and abroad.

We have chosen to give away our Made in USA Cotton Canvas Bag because it exemplifies our message about always cleaning your reusable bags, and because our USA-made reusable bags are of exceptional quality.

Continue reading →

More Reusable Bag Support Leads to Renewed Statewide Interest

Green Issues, Plastic Bag Bans,

scpr_mapMore and more cities in California have joined the reusable grocery bag movement—enough to prompt a second look by the state’s legislature. With West Hollywood’s recently passed bag ban, there are now over 10 Southern California municipalities that have approved local ordinances that regulate plastic bag use—with two more going into effect this year.

Other cities, including Los Angeles, are considering bans as well, and are at various stages of the process. If the L.A. ban is proposed and approved, the city will be the largest in the country to ban plastic bags.

Continue reading →

West Hollywood, Others, Embrace Reusable Bag Movement

Green Issues, Plastic Bag Bans,

fighting_for_reusable_shopping_bagsA ban on single-use plastic bags goes into effect in West Hollywood today for stores (including clothing stores and newsstands) larger than 10,000 square feet. The gradual rollout gives smaller stores until August 20 to comply. Shoppers must either bring reusable bags, or buy paper bags made with at least 40% post-consumer recycled content for 10 cents.

This ban is just one of many in effect, or being debated, across the country as the negative effects of plastic bag use are increasingly being highlighted.

Continue reading →

Texas Rubbish Company Starts Plastic Bag Recycling Program

Green Issues, ,

bagsatlandfillIf you aren’t living in an area where plastic bags have been banned, there are other options to cut down on the rubbish! Texas Disposal Systems has begun operating a citywide, single-stream bag recycling program in Georgetown.

Residents can recycle large quantities of single-use plastic bags by putting them into a special bag. That container is then placed in the regular curbside recycling bins for pickup.

Neighboring Austin’s bag restriction law is set to take effect in March. TDS says the city currently doesn’t include bags in its curbside collection and recycling program. Here’s hoping that changes soon—restricting plastic bags while enabling easy, effective recycling options are both key to reducing the impact of plastic trash!

Reusable Grocery Bags: More Kids Making a Difference

Plastic Bag Bans, ,

weston-plastic-bags-girls-300x249On February 7, two fourth graders in Weston, Connecticut, will be submitting a petition to their town selectmen. They are trying to ban plastic grocery bags, and have collected 150 signatures on a petition in support of that.

Colleen Moore, 10, had the idea for the petition as part of an assignment in her Project Challenge class at school. “I wanted to do something that was good for the environment and this seemed like a good idea,” she said. Fellow student Julia Morledge, 9, has partnered with Colleen to help move the idea forward.

Continue reading →