Reusable Shoppers Are Making Headlines!
TRAY6 calls the great state of California home. We’re proud of the efforts that California has undergone to make our communities & state a great place for both our fans and the environment. One community in particular has just made headlines – Manhattan Beach. They have just been granted the approval to officially ban plastic bags from their shops & stores. As of January 14, 2012 – plastic bags are officially being forced out of this chic California beach community. A quote from the City of Manhattan Beach’s website reads;
“As a first step toward reducing single-bag use, the Manhattan Beach City Council passed an ordinance banning the distribution of plastic bags at the point-of-sale for all retail establishments in Manhattan Beach in July 2008. After being on hold for a few years due to a lawsuit brought by the “Save the Plastic Bag Coalition,” the City’s plastic bag ordinance will begin implementation on January 14, 2012.”
Stores in the community will have until April 14th, 2012 before the ban is officially in place to allow for transition. Shop owners are asked to encourage their patrons to bring their own reusable shoppers for purchases.
Why the ban the plastic bag all together? Research conducted by the City of Manhattan Beach was presented as follows;
“According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, approximately 6 billion plastic bags are consumed in Los Angeles County each year. That means that the average Los Angeles County resident takes home 600 plastic bags in one year. According to the US EPA annual Municipal Solid Waste Report (MSW) from 2005, less than 1% of plastic bags are recycled in the United States. And, since plastic bags are lightweight and easily caught in the wind, they make up a significant amount of the litter found in storm drains that lead directly to the beach and ocean.”
Wow! Over 600 bags? Yikes! It sure makes one rethink their whole shopping experience. Thankfully the successful rise of popularity in reusable shoppers is making them easy to come by and fans are offered more and more designs and selections to customize their shopping needs! Have you checked out our selection of reusable shoppers on TRAY6.com?
What are your thoughts on the plastic bag ban? Do you use reusable shoppers? Do you think the ban will catch on in your hometown?