Last 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.
Plastic Bag Recycling? Not So Fast …
Buying Bulk? Folding Reusable Bags A Popular Option
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.
Hemp Reusable Bags Made in the USA: Closer to Reality?
Another Plastic Bag Ban: Portland City Council to Draft Ordinance
Plastic grocery bags could soon be a thing of the past in Portland, Maine.
The 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.
#WashYourBags To Win A Bag!
Renewed 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
Now 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.
More Reusable Bag Support Leads to Renewed Statewide Interest
More 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.
West Hollywood, Others, Embrace Reusable Bag Movement
A 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.
Texas Rubbish Company Starts Plastic Bag Recycling Program
If 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.