Action

BYOBag Marin supporter Martha Pearl-Logan of Mill Valley shops the Marin County Farmers Market with a reusable Reisenthel tote.

WHAT WE’RE DOING ABOUT IT
Marin County is joining communities across the state and around the world in a movement to end wasteful single-use packaging and reduce litter which is unsightly, costly, disruptive to habitat, and harmful to wildlife. Plastic bags have been restricted or banned outright in 11 nations, 22 municipalities and provinces outside the US, 13 US municipalities (8 in California), and 1 state.

Supervisor Charles McGlashan, working with colleague Susan Adams, has authored an ordinance that will ban or put a charge on throw-away plastic and paper bags. With support from community groups and grocers, we hope to pass it in 2011. The BYOBag campaign has been focused very simply on raising public awareness – creating the support and political will needed to pass this legislation.

EcoMom Alliance, Green Sangha, iReuse.com, and Teens Turning Green are founding partners in this local movement to contribute to the health of our planet. We are joined by these friends in sustainability: Californians Against Waste, Clean Water Action, Environment California, Save the Bay, Sea Turtle Restoration Network, Sierra Club Marin, Surfrider, and Sustainable San Rafael. Many of these organizations also belong to the Clean Seas Coalition, a group dedicated to restoring the purity and health of our Pacific Ocean and coastline.

GOALS

Decrease waste
Reduce pollution of air, soil, and water
Save resources (fossil fuel, trees, water)
Decrease litter
Reduce costs for stores (each plastic bag costs the grocer one cent; paper bags cost 3-10 cents)
Improve city and town efficiency (litter clean-up takes city employees’ time when all municipalities are working hard to balance their budgets and maintain vital services)
Reinforce the community ethic of stewardship and care for the earth

WHAT STORES CAN DO

Proclaim BYOBag Day on Earth Day 2011, April 22. We can help you with: a sample press release; signs to go outside your store; displays at each check-out counter; in-house newsletter messages; check-out “stuffers.” We can also provide volunteers to greet customers outside your store.
Make reusable bags available and prominently displayed at check-out counters or aisle ends.
Give a generous credit for each reusable bag a customer brings one on Earth Day (5-25 cents, to catch customers’ attention and reinforce the message)
Sign a letter endorsing a county-wide end to free throw-away bags in all retail operations.

BENEFITS TO STORES

Save money on bags (reducing waste is good for business!)
Meet organizational objectives to improve your green profile
Enhance respect in the community by taking leadership in the drive to zero waste

KEY DATES TO REMEMBER
BYOBag Days:
Earth Day, Friday, April 22,2011; California BYOBag Day, Thursday, December 15,2011.
Anticipated implementation of the first single-use bag ordinance in Marin County: January 1, 2012