American consumers use and throw away about one trillion plastic bags every year. Plastic bags are made from non-renewable resources (oil and other chemicals), and can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment. They litter our streets, clog our storm drains and landfills, and end up in oceans, lakes, rivers and bays where they impact marine ecosystems. What can we do about this environmental nightmare?

Many business owners have decided to eliminate plastic bags from their retail operations, and have substituted either 100% recycled paper or biodegradable plastic bags made from renewable resources. Many customers are bringing their own reuseable bags, and retailers can support this trend by selling imprinted canvas or nylon bags inexpensively.

Resources:

The Bag Share Project is a unique initiative in which baskets of free fabric bags are placed at registers of participating merchants where they can be used or returned.