With Californians using more than 14 billion plastic grocery bags every year – but recycling less than 5% of those – Long Beach has partnered with Heal The Bay and other environmental organizations to recognize today as “A Day Without A Bag,” in order to promote reusable bags that do not harm the environment.

The City is even giving away free reusable bags at four locations throughout the day while supplies last.  They’ll be at:

City Hall, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., Lobby Level Information Desk, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, Front Desk, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Ralphs Grocery Store, 2930 E. 4th St., 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Ralphs Grocery Store, 1930 N. Lakewood Blvd. (near Outer Traffic Circle), 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

So if you’re shopping today, bring your own reusable bag.  They can also be purchased at grocery stores.

Both paper and plastic grocery bags damage the environment due to the quickening rate at which they must be produced, and the pollutants that are generated to make them.  Disposable bags are rarely recycled and become litter that eventually ends up in our streets – and in Long Beach’s case, our rivers and beaches.  If Californians are able to cut their bag use in half, more than 800,000 barrels of oil and 73,000 tons of trash would be saved.

Click here for more information at the Day Without A Bag website.

By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor