To kick-off our efforts, ABAG is distributing reusable grocery bags to local government officials to raise awareness of the simple steps that we all can take. The bag donation was made possible by support from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Why a reusable grocery bag?

The "bag from ABAG" is easy to use because of its small, handy size. It, or any other reusable bag can be carried in a pocket, purse or briefcase.

Why is it important to use reusable bags?

Think about the fact that Bay Area residents use between 331 million to 1.6 billion bags a year (estimates per person are between 42 and 227 plastic bags per year).

In the US, 30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper grocery bags are used per year requiring 14 million trees and 12 million barrels of oil.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that only 1% of plastic bags were recycled in 2000 nationwide, leaving 99% to break down into smaller and smaller toxic pieces that can be eaten by animals.

The manufacturing, delivery, and disposal of paper bags also have environmental impacts. According to the US EPA, paper bags generate 70 percent more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags, because four times as much energy is required to produce paper bags and 85 times as much energy is needed to recycle them.

Other Bay Area local governments are involved in promoting reusable bags, including:

San Francisco
City of Oakland
City of Palo Alto
County of Santa Clara
The Bring your own Bag campaign