April 6, 2009
COLDSTREAM, BC – Plastic bags are the target for Earth Day 2009. In 2008 RDNO residents recycled 67,000 kg of plastic film. When you consider one bag weighs less than a gram, that is a lot of bags (about 67 million). This isn’t all the plastic bags generated in the RDNO – many more were landfilled and littered around the region.
This year, the Regional District of North Okanagan and the City of Vernon are celebrating Earth Day by raising awareness of using sustainable, reusable bags. On April 22, 2009 FREE Enviro Bags will be available throughout the region at participating retailers and at the Vernon Library/Museum Square. For a complete list of retailers please go to www.rdno.ca or www.vernon.ca. “We are proud to display a logo on the cloth bags designed by Vernon Secondary student Elya DeVolder. Elya’s design was chosen at the 2008 BC Rivers Day reusable bag design contest and we will be looking for another winner this fall for next year’s design,” adds Waste Reduction Coordinator, Karmen Peace.
Participating retailers will either have Enviro bags available free to the public, or they promote their own to support the plastic bag reduction initiative.
More and more communities around the world are viewing plastic bags with a critical eye and some have even banned their use. The goal of the awareness initiative is to remind residents to use reusable bags when shopping and reduce plastic waste where possible. It is hoped that this type of packaging will change to a design that protects instead of pollutes the environment.
Reducing waste is important everyday, but Earth Day is a great time to think about the personal impact each of us has on our local environment. April 22 may be the day to reduce waste in other ways, such as rethinking what you buy to avoid plastic bags, reduce over consumption and reuse items instead of buying new. On Wednesday, April 22 look for the Enviro Bags in your community and take part in the events in downtown Vernon or in your community.
For more information:
Karmen Peace
Waste Reduction Coordinator
250-550-3743
Anna Page
Sustainability Coordinator
250-550-3789
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