tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65097063495374697252023-11-16T08:22:49.673-08:00Bag It CorvallisA local effort to reduce plastic waste in Corvallis, OregonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-85952784981906737012012-07-03T13:01:00.002-07:002012-07-03T13:03:39.269-07:00Corvallis Passes Bag Ban<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> The bag ban passed at approximately 8 p.m. last night. The ordinance includes a pass-through
fee of five cents per paper bag to encourage the use of reusable bags---the first in Oregon!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The Marys Peak chapter of the Sierra Club and its Environmental Action (Enact) Team introduced the resolution, petitions, and the original model
ordinance for the city to work from. This success also received
necessary support from the Corvallis community, Environment Oregon, the Audubon
Society, the Northwest Grocery Retailers Association, and the Surfrider
organization. Below, Debra Higbee-Sudyka of the Enact Team testifies to the council and mayor.</span></div>
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<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span><a href="http://f1620.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f4204687%5fANTTi2IAAVBCT%2fMQ1AIs9EGPOPQ&pid=1.2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailClassic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" id="yiv607234943MA1.1341329528" src="http://f1620.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f4204687%5fANTTi2IAAVBCT%2fMQ1AIs9EGPOPQ&pid=1.2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailClassic" style="height: 360px; width: 480px;" vspace="5" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">The Bag
Monster vowed to stay around unless Councilor O'Brien took action. Now it's giving up the ghost in Corvallis and will move on to Eugene. Go
Oregon!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span id="yiv607234943role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="360" id="yiv607234943MA2.1341329528" src="http://f1620.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f4204687%5fANTTi2IAAVBCT%2fMQ1AIs9EGPOPQ&pid=1.3&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailClassic" style="height: 360px; width: 480px;" vspace="5" width="480" /> </span></div>
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<br /></div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-10344716571248481232012-06-28T21:51:00.003-07:002012-06-28T21:51:58.183-07:00Bag Ban Needs One Last Push<style type="text/css">
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Gazette Times reported the BIG news that plastic bags are banned. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
must be true, right? NO, it’s not true—yet. </span></span></span><span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next
Tuesday, the G-T may have an opposite headline: </span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Plastic
bags NOT banned."</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">
To avoid that, we need to get to work. And, I'll need your help. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In order for the
ordinance to pass, we just need 5 Councilors to vote yes. If we pack
the room with supporters, it will happen. So, let’s do it.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When:</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> July
2, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Downtown
Fire Station (400 NW Harrison Blvd.)</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Ban
the Bag in Corvallis</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the last meeting
Councilor O'Brien, an opponent of the bag ban, voted yes to ban the
bag because he didn't ever want to see the Bag Monster again. So come
see the Bag Monster remind Councilor O'Brien that if he votes yes,
she will go home :)
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many
</span></span></span><span style="color: #e36c0a;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">OSU
students</span></span></span><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">
have done their part to move this forward. Now's the time for one
last push!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: small;">Talking
points: </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Reasons to Ban
Paper Bags:</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b>Wastes Resources</b>. Single-use, disposables of any type is a
wasteful use of valuable resources. Respecting the natural world and
its natural resources is an important ethic to encourage.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b>Switch to Reusable Bags</b>. When the local Sierra Club submitted
the ordinance the title was “<i>Encouraging Reusable Bags</i> and
Prohibiting the Use of Single-Use Plastic Carryout Bags.” They
chose that title for a good reason. Switching to more sustainable
reusable bags is the goal.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b>Many Cities are Banning Bags</b>. In California, there are 42
cities and 6 counties that have plastic bag bans. All have a price
requirement except for 4 cities. In Washington, five of six cities
have passed a plastic bag ordinance.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
<b>Business Support.</b> Corporations and businesses are not
automatically against sustainability or environmental concerns.
Sixty local downtown Corvallis businesses and the Northwest Grocery
Association (which represents the large grocers) have signed letters
of support for the ordinance. This is a testimony to the fact that
this ordinance is both good business and good environmental
stewardship. Business interests and environmental interests are not
naturally in opposition.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>An Incentive
Cost</b> <b>on Paper Bags</b>: This accomplishes many goals, and
prevents negative outcomes such as the following:</div>
</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Costs will Rise</b>. Paper bags
are more expensive than plastic. Without a pass-through fee on
paper, the grocer’s paper bag costs will go up, which will be
passed onto the customer in higher merchandise costs.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Single-use Habit Not Changed</b>.
Studies have shown that people go from single-use plastic to
single-use paper. This does not change the single-use issue.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Less incentive for Reusable
Bags</b>. Without a pass-through cost, people have less incentive to
go to reusable bags.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Disposable ethic reinforced</b>.
“Free” single-use items reinforce our wasteful, disposable
ethic. Without a cost for paper, it does little to change the
culture around the use of disposable shopping bags.* Making the cost
apparent will start to turn this around.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Environmental Impact. </b>With
"free" single-use paper bags, it makes non-plastic more
acceptable. Therefore people move to single-use paper bags, despite
potentially higher environmental and GHG impacts even when paper
bags are recycled.</div>
</li>
</ol>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-2333903942380019672012-06-16T12:05:00.002-07:002012-06-16T12:08:46.998-07:00Don’t miss this BIG event…<style type="text/css">
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<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Corvallis City Council will vote on the ordinance </span></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: large;">to
ban single-use plastic checkout bags</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>When:
</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Monday, June 18</span><span style="font-size: medium;">
at 7:00 p.m.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> </b></i></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Where:
</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Downtown Fire Station, </span><span style="font-size: small;">400
NW Harrison (public input from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Why: Because – </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>It’s
Time</b></span><b>.</b> <span style="font-size: small;">Forty-seven
cities and counties in California from Los Angeles to San Francisco
have banned single-use plastic checkout bags. Portland and cities
across the state are moving forward with their own initiatives. Now
is the time for Corvallis to demonstrate similar leadership in
support of a sustainable future for all people and our natural
environment.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>And, because o</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>f
</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>the environmental and economic impacts</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>.</b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Plastic bag pollution is in
communities throughout the country. Plastic lasts for hundreds of
years in our environment and may never biodegrade in the ocean. As a
result, it poses a persistent threat to wildlife, killing millions of
marine animals like sea turtles and sea birds every year.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Come
and join us. Let’s give the Councilors support and let them know
we’re ready.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-37477541325442612812012-06-07T13:35:00.001-07:002012-06-07T13:37:27.240-07:00Bag Monster Tells Its Story to City CouncilThe Administrative Services Committee of the Corvallis City Council received testimony from many in support of an ordinance to ban single-use plastic bags at the check-out.The ordinance is still a work in progress and may include a "pass-through" paper bag fee of five cents to "incentivize" use of reusable bags. The Sierra Club's, Mary's Peak Chapter, Environmental Action Team, had earlier pushed for a City Resolution calling for the elimination of single-use plastic check-out bags, and then continued by promoting a model ordinance to ban these bags. There have been many studies, iterations and meetings.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, Suzanne Lazaro told the Bag Monster's story to Corvalllis City Council. Here's an excerpt from the Bag Monster's speech:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgY-oruxJwsd6S514GlbvWeY1GwvYuBhyphenhyphenNXEsNKCJWZmN2A7ZaupAcRtEm4L3WwIPXrsKfuQcorizX1cVzldTze-Iz48QjRrijY4G7HxDzcFFewVlpZtzlMaDb_SoNjnSlvyu5-Ru6NmS/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgY-oruxJwsd6S514GlbvWeY1GwvYuBhyphenhyphenNXEsNKCJWZmN2A7ZaupAcRtEm4L3WwIPXrsKfuQcorizX1cVzldTze-Iz48QjRrijY4G7HxDzcFFewVlpZtzlMaDb_SoNjnSlvyu5-Ru6NmS/s400/download.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
"I was created in a time of magic and belief that growth was infinite and without consequences; now I have billions of Bag Monster brothers and sisters around the world, multiple generations, 500 bags each one.. and some of them are telling me about the choking sea life... and I became sad and wanted to change things. Others tell me about Canada's Atlantic Superstore meeting public acceptance and success with becoming a "bag-less" store. I decided to help others get signatures and am presenting you with 1,113 signed requests to ban single-use plastic check-out bags at stores in Corvallis. I brag to people about Corvallis; I want to continue doing so."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-82390372186201127792012-06-06T00:05:00.000-07:002012-06-07T13:26:48.612-07:00The ‘Bag Monster’ Presents 1,111 Citizen Petitions to the City Council<style type="text/css">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">Today the Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club,
with the Bag Monster, presented to the Administrative Services
Committee (ASC) 1,111 citizen petitions in support of the ordinance to
reduce single-use plastic waste in Corvallis. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">The
petitions were signed by individuals who want to “encourage the use
of reusable bags and reduce our dependence on finite natural
resources.” The best way to do this is to ban single-use plastic
bags and have a “pass-through cost” on single-use paper bags. If
the cost of a paper bag is made apparent, which is now hidden in a
customer’s purchase, this will remind us to bring our reusable
bags. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">The
Sierra Club proposed an <a href="http://bagitcorvallis.blogspot.com/p/our-ordinance.html" target="_blank">ordinance</a> in November 2011 that bans
single-use plastic carryout bags along with a five-cent pass-through
charge on paper bags. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">Today, the City Staff presented an ordinance that bans plastic
bags without a pass-through cost on paper bags. A ban on single-use
plastic bags without an incentive to switch to reusable bags will
cause people to overwhelmingly switch to paper bags. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">Portland
is experiencing this, as did San Francisco, which passed a similar
ordinance. An ordinance without a pass-through cost means the
problem switches from one single-use bag to another, which causes a
hardship for retailers and does not break the single-use habit. San
Francisco just voted to expand their ordinance and added a 10-cent
minimum charge on paper bags. The Northwest Grocery Association will
be at the ASC meeting to support this finding.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">The
Northwest Grocery Association, Sierra Club Attorney Dan Snyder, the
First Alternative Co-op, Environment Oregon, and the Surfrider
Foundation will attend and provide information on why a pass-through
cost on single-use paper is important.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS,sans-serif;">According
to Debra Higbee-Sudyka, vice chair of the Marys Peak Group, “We
received 1,300 signatures of support last November from Corvallis
residents for the ban on single-use plastic checkout bags, and
recently 55 letters of support were signed from businesses. We are
now showing further support through the 1,111 petitions that people
have signed in support of the ordinance.”</span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-87796232740283957712012-05-09T18:58:00.002-07:002012-06-07T13:27:21.339-07:00OSU Students Promote Bag It Corvallis at High School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxaJnep42e259dSfjFxMY6Q1B-JRz5N59OTVUAZfkJeMJ2tqVm1BiqTKWAJ4arqDtV-4_lOxlI8anElXSe2w9AcGvkmokY7dkqo_WN7rJJCj6tCVb1D_FhIiykkcRR05u_ZQ3lvw-Frc/s1600/class.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxaJnep42e259dSfjFxMY6Q1B-JRz5N59OTVUAZfkJeMJ2tqVm1BiqTKWAJ4arqDtV-4_lOxlI8anElXSe2w9AcGvkmokY7dkqo_WN7rJJCj6tCVb1D_FhIiykkcRR05u_ZQ3lvw-Frc/s400/class.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Students from Oregon State University's GEO 300 class gave a presentation on Bag It Corvallis at the Corvallis High School yesterday.<br />
<br />
For more info on the current state of the campaign, check out today's story in the Gazette-Times: <a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/city-staff-don-t-push-plastic-bag-ban/article_5e61047c-9812-11e1-a1f5-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=story" target="_blank">City staff: Don't push plastic bag ban</a><br />
<br />
The City Council’s Administrative Services Committee met today to discuss the ban. Stay tuned and wish us luck...Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-45800021654557270622012-05-07T22:04:00.001-07:002012-06-07T13:28:10.169-07:00Please Comment on City's Final Report!<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Friends of Bag It
Corvallis,</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On
behalf of the Sierra Club’s Marys Peak Group, I would like to bring your
attention to the City Staff’s <a href="http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/downloads/pw/bags/05-09-12%20ASC%20meeting%20packet%20excerpted.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1336453195_0">Final Report</span></span></a> on the “Process for Addressing Single-Use
Plastic Bags.” The City will submit their Report at
the<b>
Administrative Services Committee meeting next Wednesday, May 9 at
4 p.m.</b>
where you have the opportunity to comment<b>.</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>The
City’s </b><b>recommendation is that the City
Council not pursue an ordinance of any kind, but instead direct staff to look to
our community partners to achieve the Council's goal</b><b>.</b> In lieu of an ordinance they
will “speak with the Corvallis
Sustainability Coalition, specifically the Waste and Education Action Teams,
about what grass-roots actions they could pursue to encourage retailers to
reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags.”
</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">City Staff also drafted an ordinance (see Attachment I in
the </span><a href="http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/downloads/pw/bags/05-09-12%20ASC%20meeting%20packet%20excerpted.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Final Report</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).<b> The ordinance lacks
enforcement and they acknowledge that it “therefore is of questionable value.”
</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
the City’s documents the environmental, policy, or cost-saving reasons that
explain the need for an ordinance is not mentioned. On April 4, 2011, the City Council
adopted “<a href="http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/gsearch?q=archive.ci.corvallis.or.us%2F0%2Fdoc%2F297402%2FPage1.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Resolution 2011-06</span></a>,”
in support of a state-wide plastic bag bill, which listed policy and
environmental reasons for the resolution and for a possible future ordinance. The Sierra Club’s ordinance “<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6509706349537469725" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue;">Encouraging
Reusable Bags and Prohibiting The Use Of Single-Use Plastic Carryout
Bags</span></a>” submitted November 2011 also included reasons why an ordinance
was needed. This important information should have been included in the City’s
information and draft ordinance.</span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% lime; font-family: 'sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">Corvallis
is a green community, and has won many awards for
this.</span></b><b style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">
</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">City of
Corvallis recently received Corvallis Tourism's Gaea Award, which recognizes an
entity who demonstrates excellence in ecological stewardship required for
sustainable tourism; Corvallis is cited as the #1 city in America for green
buildings per capita; </span></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6509706349537469725" rel="nofollow" style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Corvallis was voted one of <i>Sunset Magazine</i>'s favorite
eco-friendly small towns. </span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
City of Corvallis is presented with the opportunity to live up to its
reputation. Single-use disposable
plastic checkout bags are not sustainable and we have the opportunity of
following Portland’s lead in banning them.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Because
of your interest in maintaining Corvallis’s leadership in sustainability, please
join us in commenting on this small but important sustainability
goal.</span><span style="color: black;">
</span><b style="color: black;">The Administrative Services Committee
will make a decision on the City’s proposed ordinance on Wednesday, May
9 at 4 p.m. at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room</b><span style="color: black;"> (500 SW Madison, across from City Hall).</span> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you,</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Debra
Higbee-Sudyka</b></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv822955595MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marys Peak Group – Sierra
Club</span></span></b></div>
</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-83443615908200686082012-05-05T15:11:00.001-07:002012-06-07T13:28:40.282-07:00Plastic Problem Gets BiggerCalifornia Watch recently published an article showing that the problem of plastic in our oceans might be bigger than previously thought:<br />
<a href="http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/plastic-pollution-ocean-likely-underestimated-researchers-say-15970" target="_blank">"Plastic pollution in ocean likely underestimated, researchers say"</a>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-46017773608319288382012-05-01T16:06:00.002-07:002012-06-07T13:29:04.947-07:00Bag It Corvallis Needs Your Help!<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9qN9LIBJpjtuNGSg9vC8Q-7-ulpmVzxThOcy9X2hqdFIFmh7rfAv2aU2afQIGJFrHVOFkJAYfEejirv29KGAU18w2CalKUpQot4t_2mZZrOiS-mHfbfj4k5ghWHAgCpZ83WSIQx3VXE/s1600/Copy+of+HPIM1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9qN9LIBJpjtuNGSg9vC8Q-7-ulpmVzxThOcy9X2hqdFIFmh7rfAv2aU2afQIGJFrHVOFkJAYfEejirv29KGAU18w2CalKUpQot4t_2mZZrOiS-mHfbfj4k5ghWHAgCpZ83WSIQx3VXE/s320/Copy+of+HPIM1425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Wanted</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: Volunteers to help us reach our goal of
1,000 postcards! (We have 800 so far)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">When</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: Saturday, May 5; 9 </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 9pt;">a.m.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">to
1 p.m.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1986685948MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Where</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: The
Corvallis Farmers' Market, with the Bag Monster.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">The
Goal</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: Have fun and get 200 "I Support
the Ban" postcards signed.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1986685948MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Why</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: The Corvallis City Staff will hand over an ordinance to the
Administrative Services Committee on Wednesday, May 9. We want to show the City
Councilors (who will make the final decision) how many people support a
ban.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1986685948MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Come
Join the
Fun</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">: We'll have a "stuff the
reusable bag" contest and give away reusable bags to winners. </span></div>
<div class="yiv1986685948MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="yiv1986685948MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;">Contact<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;">: Debra Higbee-Sudyka, <a href="http://us.mc1620.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dwhigbe@juno.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dwhigbe@juno.com</a> , c.
541-554-6979</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-18011560661908329502012-04-20T16:53:00.003-07:002012-06-07T13:29:23.047-07:00Bag It Corvallis Campaign Update – April<span style="color: black;">Even
though there is broad support for the ordinance (we received 1300
signatures of support, and 55 signatures of support from businesses),
and it will move Corvallis in a more sustainable direction regarding
a single-use plastic bag habit, the City’s staff is not convinced.
We need to help convince them, and remind the City Councilors why
they support it. That’s why we are doing even more on the Bag It
Campaign. We’re now asking supporters to sign postcards of
support, which we will send into the City Council. </span><span style="color: black;"><b>So
far we have approximately 400 postcards</b></span><span style="color: black;">!
Help us move Corvallis forward. We're almost there, but we need
your help. </span><span style="color: black;"><b>Tell friends and family to
come join the fun at the following events:</b></span><br />
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<h2 class="western">
Public Outreach</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Corvallis
Farmer’s Market</b></span><span style="color: #f79646;"><b> </b></span>Saturdays<b>,</b><span style="color: #f79646;"><b>
</b></span>April 14, 21, and 28<b>
</b>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Bag Monster will be at the
Farmer's Market each Saturday, asking people to sign post cards in
support of the ordinance.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Earth
Fair Costume Party</b></span><span style="color: #f79646;"><b> </b></span>-
April 21,<span style="color: #548dd4;"><b> </b></span>7:00 - 12:00 PM<span style="color: #548dd4;"><b>
</b></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tabling at Corvallis Environmental
Center's Earth day Costume Party. We will have a
stuff-the-reusable-bag contest with the Bag Monster. We will educate
and get people to sign post cards.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>OSU
Earth Day Fair</b></span><span style="color: #f79646;"><b> </b></span>April
24 - 11:00 to 3:00<span style="color: #548dd4;"><b> </b></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tabling at OSU’s Earth Day Fair.
We will get people to sign post cards with the Bag Monster.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>OSU
GEO 300 Students </b></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
OSU students tabled on the EU quad in front of the Valley Library on April 17. The Bag Monster was a big hit (<a href="http://kezi.com/news/local/244427" target="_blank">check it out</a>)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">. </span> They talked to students and
handed out postcards for people to send in support of the
ordinance.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Bag
It Movie</b></span><span style="color: #f79646;"><b> - </b></span>April 25,
7:00 - 9:00</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First United Methodist Church,
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1165 Northwest Monroe Avenue,</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Corvallis. The film follows
“everyman” Jeb Berrier as he tries to make sense of our
dependence on plastic bags and discovers its negative effects.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="western">
Business Outreach<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></span>
</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>OSU
GEO 300 Students </b></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The OSU students are canvassing
Corvallis businesses explaining the single-use plastic bag issue and
getting support for the ordinance.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Volunteers</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We are continuing to reach out to
businesses in April.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="western">
School Outreach</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>OSU
GEO 300 Students </b></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span>
</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
OSU students are putting together a presentation to explain, show, and answer questions regarding the environmental issues of single-use plastic. They will present to OSU and Corvallis high schools, April 14 to May 26.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="western">
Media Outreach</h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;"><b>Volunteers</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We need volunteers to help with the website.
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.02in;">
</div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-67413665164465050582012-03-25T19:20:00.009-07:002012-03-25T19:29:37.357-07:00Back by Popular Demand...Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five minutes: single-use disposable bags that we mindlessly throw away. But where is “away?” Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to our environment, marine life, and human health? Bag It follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic world.<br /><br />What: Free showing of the movie Bag It<br /><br />When: Thursday, March 29<br /><br />Where: First Alternative Co-op, South Store, 1007 SE 3rd St., Corvallis<br /><br />Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.<br /><br />Important Note: The City of Corvallis is gathering public information on Tuesday, April 3 (5:30 to 8:30 p.m.) at the Corvallis Public Library, 645 NW Monroe. Come show your support for banning single-use plastic checkout bags to encourage reusable bags!Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-67196798622051404352012-03-23T13:05:00.002-07:002012-03-23T13:12:22.225-07:00Movie Showing Tonight<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqnZLZqbDXR6nPY0CDAja3gTNnLOUnlDFqQUBALArJ2KEmBAmTzTJAdKRLOQz-bk_RFFJyLHXosN1_GQQ6l_AvV3QImJnuHE6i0VHtt3yEAd9v5sVNSCDK2c9OH7eyDRbMv5Qi-HOOv8/s1600/filmstill_2.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqnZLZqbDXR6nPY0CDAja3gTNnLOUnlDFqQUBALArJ2KEmBAmTzTJAdKRLOQz-bk_RFFJyLHXosN1_GQQ6l_AvV3QImJnuHE6i0VHtt3yEAd9v5sVNSCDK2c9OH7eyDRbMv5Qi-HOOv8/s320/filmstill_2.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723187911513747698" /></a><br />Don't miss our screening of <a href="http://www.bagitmovie.com/">"Bag It"</a> tonight, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Benton County Library. Admission is free.Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-6800974444058042912012-02-18T11:41:00.001-08:002012-02-18T11:47:49.433-08:00Local Businesses Support Plastic Bag Ban<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkCNbSpdemotcijfskx9F7nP7EuCdcQecbr4N5yyMWpdFFlF8hWK9N42nKAw8h8h-iRqc6yHGPcUNLDLbmrzzS1o48ceEmOgBl-UclfEUI9cU0yw6JIlU5HLF51ljexreitFr0DjefbM/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkCNbSpdemotcijfskx9F7nP7EuCdcQecbr4N5yyMWpdFFlF8hWK9N42nKAw8h8h-iRqc6yHGPcUNLDLbmrzzS1o48ceEmOgBl-UclfEUI9cU0yw6JIlU5HLF51ljexreitFr0DjefbM/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710563205918978850" /></a> Pictured is Suzanne Lazaro who finished a very successful day in the Bag It Corvallis Business Outreach campaign. She is smiling because 50 businesses in downtown Corvallis, have signed a letter of support! Many local businesses recognize the importance of reducing single-use plastic waste for the safety of our community and environment.<br /><p>The Marys Peak Group of the Sierra Club will also be showing the award-winning environmental documentary "Bag It" on Friday, March 23. "Bag It" follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he tries to make sense of our dependence on plastic bags. Although his quest starts out small, Jeb soon learns that the problem extends past landfills to oceans, rivers, and ultimately human health.<br /><p>The average American uses about 500 plastic bags each year, for about 12 minutes each. This single-use mentality has led to the formation of a floating mass of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean gyre, which in some places outnumber plankton 40 to 1. The film explores these issues and identifies how our daily reliance on plastic threatens not only waterways and marine life, but human health, too. Two of the most common plastic additives are endocrine disruptors, which have been shown to link to cancer, diabetes, autism, attention deficit disorder, obesity, and infertility.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />'Bag It' Screening: Sunday, March 23<br />Time: 7 to 9 p.m.<br />Screening Location: Benton County Library<br />Admission: Free</span>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-85116267492108716082012-01-12T22:11:00.000-08:002012-01-12T22:26:05.821-08:00Bag It Corvallis Connects to Local BusinessesOn Monday, Jan. 9, supporters of Bag It Corvallis visited 41 local businesses. Six signed a letter of support and 30 showed positive interest, requesting that we contact them again. Tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 13) another Business Canvass takes place from 9 a.m. to noon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4Qi87sx455sVqFolCrO3h1B9x2uxWWmt0ictFB7TaI94bIR2wLHylP46BQE5lMqwDdhb4njG3TDVUXOgdko3u9Ya23I68781MTZ0PNmKbAcsmkehF3VfzcpSX2Ze_f2PSUCX9p9fUrY/s1600/HPIM1405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4Qi87sx455sVqFolCrO3h1B9x2uxWWmt0ictFB7TaI94bIR2wLHylP46BQE5lMqwDdhb4njG3TDVUXOgdko3u9Ya23I68781MTZ0PNmKbAcsmkehF3VfzcpSX2Ze_f2PSUCX9p9fUrY/s320/HPIM1405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696997337162084482" /></a><br />Pictured: Dave Matthews of Environment Oregon joined Bag It Corvallis to canvass businesses on Monday.<br /><br />Below is a copy of the letter of support that we are asking local businesses to sign:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>January, 2012<br /><br />Mayor Julie Manning and Corvallis City Council<br />501 SW Madison Ave. PO Box 1083 <br />Corvallis, OR 97339-1083<br /><br />RE: Corvallis Ordinance: “Encourage Reusable Bags and Ban Single-use Plastic Carryout Bags” <br /><br />Dear Mayor and City Council: <br /><br />We the undersigned business owners and small businesses in Corvallis, Oregon value the natural beauty of our state and want our environment and coasts to stay pristine. We want to express our support of a Single-Use Checkout Plastic Bag Ban here in Corvallis for the following reasons:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Cost Incentive. </span>Retailers spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually to provide single-use bags to customers. For example, some supermarkets spend up to $1,500 to $6,000 a month just to provide single-use bags to their customers at check-out. Many major grocery stores realize this significant cost burden and offer discount incentives to customers who bring their own bags.<br />a. Stores typically pay 2 to 5 cents per plastic bag and 5 to 9 cents per paper bag. This can add up.. Therefore a minimal cost incentive of 5-cents per paper bag is reasonable. It is an incentive for people who forget their canvas bag, and to partially compensate retailers.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />2. Environment. </span>As businesses, we are also concerned with the environmental and economic impacts of plastic bag pollution in inland and coastal communities throughout the country. Americans use an estimated 102 billion single-use plastic bags every year. <br />a. The decision to recycle our way out of this problem is a false option. Despite efforts to expand recycling programs, a small percentage of single-use plastic bags are recycled. The rest of these bags end up in our landfills; as litter, clogging storm-drain systems; or make their way to our waterways and ocean.<br />b. It is estimated that 60–80% of all marine debris, and 90% of floating debris is plastic. Plastic lasts for hundreds of years in our environment and may never biodegrade in the ocean. As a result, it poses a persistent threat to wildlife, killing millions of marine animals like sea turtles and sea birds every year. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. It’s Time. </span>Portland has banned single-use plastic checkout bags, and cities across the state are moving forward with their own initiatives. Now is the time for Corvallis to demonstrate similar leadership in support of a sustainable future for all people and our natural environment.</blockquote>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-31726006993981024722011-12-15T20:11:00.000-08:002011-12-15T20:29:35.214-08:00Seattle Proposes Plastic Bag Ban<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4OaP9OX7o1TMP8Wq46y0RwXd42T1h-ZdN-FRU2_QbxwDKqnoaHHXq9rakeWcDLMQa6ZLFoi7Rz5Ro0Quv7RL03DFKNaZUESILILoLoRTd0O4iUmKio6C_toyJEwfXRujyddBzXq_mxo/s1600/800px-SeattleI5Skyline.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4OaP9OX7o1TMP8Wq46y0RwXd42T1h-ZdN-FRU2_QbxwDKqnoaHHXq9rakeWcDLMQa6ZLFoi7Rz5Ro0Quv7RL03DFKNaZUESILILoLoRTd0O4iUmKio6C_toyJEwfXRujyddBzXq_mxo/s320/800px-SeattleI5Skyline.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686576929138515730" /></a><br />Seattle has joined the list of places that are pursuing a ban on single-use plastic bags. The city received a wake-up call late last month when more than 20 plastic bags were found inside the stomach of a juvenile gray whale stranded at Puget Sound.<br /><br />People for Puget Sound posted a guest blog entry by David Todd that explains the situation: <a href="http://pugetsound.org/blog/gray-whale2019s-death-a-wakeup-call-about-plastics-1">"Gray Whale's Death a Wakeup Call About Plastics.</a>"<br /><br />On its website, the organization cites the following reasons for banning plastic bags:<br /><br />"We need to take action because:<br /> * Plastics harm our wildlife. Birds, fish, and whales can choke on them, they are poisonous, and they can become entangled.<br /> * We need to reduce plastic pollution into our lakes, streams, Puget Sound and the ocean.<br /> * Plastic bags are light-weight and easily blow into our waters. They break down into tiny bits but don’t biodegrade for hundreds of years.<br /> * The tiny pieces of plastic, including plastic bag pieces, are called microplastics, and are floating in Puget Sound. Every water sample taken in Puget Sound so far by researchers at UW Tacoma have plastic bits.<br /> * Tiny plastics are a pathway for toxic chemicals. Plastics attract toxic chemicals like a sponge. Fish then eat these plastic bits - and we eat the fish.<br /> * Plastics are accumulating in our world’s oceans. The most researched area, so far, is the North Pacific Gyre where a floating thin soup of plastics is in an area that is estimated to be greater than the size of Texas."<br /><br />For more info about Seattle's proposed ordinance, <a href="http://pugetsound.org/policy/issues/Seattle-plastic-bag-ordinance#-b-faqs----br--br---b-">click here</a>.Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-68885298762490959682011-12-03T21:14:00.000-08:002011-12-03T21:15:49.725-08:00Help Support Oregon's Marine Reserves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE3kGJPCQceJ9W0bMFNH4-MS-Drrj_xvMTIbhxAMlW9NRncusXslw0yP5pgJ75p1Tj-7f8yyhRF7mxoYd9EmlAGKC6MVcqZCSOqVQ5IRrUBShQSMXgg8I3v1jUm7ypQu5QgBcLFTxH-zQ/s1600/MARINE+RESERVES+LETTER+WRITING+1dec2011+PHOTO+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE3kGJPCQceJ9W0bMFNH4-MS-Drrj_xvMTIbhxAMlW9NRncusXslw0yP5pgJ75p1Tj-7f8yyhRF7mxoYd9EmlAGKC6MVcqZCSOqVQ5IRrUBShQSMXgg8I3v1jUm7ypQu5QgBcLFTxH-zQ/s400/MARINE+RESERVES+LETTER+WRITING+1dec2011+PHOTO+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Banning single-use plastic bags will start the vital process of protecting our ocean from plastic pollution. A related effort in support of our ocean's health is establishing Marine Reserves. Asking Governor Kitzaber to move this goal forward is what this group of letter writers from the Mary’s Peak Group of the Oregon Sierra Club is involved in. These letters can be sent to the office of Governor Kitzhaber before and after the legislative session that starts December 5th. Oregon is the only state on the Pacific Ocean that does not have a marine reserve or a National Marine Sanctuary. We have one of the most beautiful and productive oceans in the world; let's keep it that way. Join us in protecting a small piece of it for the future. Click <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/advoc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=553" target="_blank">here</a>, and send that letter today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-82958000172613673632011-11-08T21:21:00.000-08:002011-11-10T13:31:40.218-08:00City Council Supports Bag Ban 8 - 0<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK_LWEOhabysb_VF0GTa2fzEucA-4p2gFhSJ3q2Mz_dBBesImixUqGM-qNGNR3VfFXLfdcdkEf6a2E5zMx_OJz2ks26ZNICD0UsGPXW3uoWDFeJx8FDgAM-a-rZZl_aBqj3oPMXhkXYyn/s1600/BAG+BAN+CORVALLIS+COUNCIL+7nov2011-0071+EDITED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrK_LWEOhabysb_VF0GTa2fzEucA-4p2gFhSJ3q2Mz_dBBesImixUqGM-qNGNR3VfFXLfdcdkEf6a2E5zMx_OJz2ks26ZNICD0UsGPXW3uoWDFeJx8FDgAM-a-rZZl_aBqj3oPMXhkXYyn/s400/BAG+BAN+CORVALLIS+COUNCIL+7nov2011-0071+EDITED.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bag Monster gears up to meet the City Council</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Below is a snippet from today's Gazette-Times story, "<a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_3505c67a-09d9-11e1-92f5-001cc4c002e0.html">Council sends bag ban to committee</a>":<br />
<br />
"After hearing nearly an hour of public testimony, the Corvallis City Council on Monday elected to send a proposed ban on single-use plastic bags to its Administrative Services Committee—although some proponents of the ban and at least one councilor said it was a shame the council couldn’t enact the measure on the spot.<br />
<br />
The ordinance, which is the brainchild of the Sierra Club’s Marys Peak Group, brought a few dozen people to the noon meeting, and about 10 spoke in front of the council. Testimony was heavily in support of the ordinance with a few opposed.<br />
<br />
The council unanimously decided to move the proposed ban to the Administrative Services Committee."<br />
<br />
Sounds like our ordinance is moving forward!Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-15232489695507086272011-11-05T23:28:00.000-07:002011-11-05T23:30:09.249-07:00Front Page News!As you may have noticed today in a front page story in the Gazette-Times, Bag It Corvallis is going before the City Council this Monday to present our <a href="http://bagitcorvallis.blogspot.com/p/our-ordinance.html" target="_blank">ordinance</a> to ban single-use plastic carryout bags. To view the full article, click <a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_778ea102-073a-11e1-8853-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Today we reached a total of 1,168 signatures in support of the ordinance, exceeding our goal of reaching 1,000 before we present the ordinance to the City Council. The Corvallis City Council meets on Monday, Nov. 7 at noon at the downtown fire station, 400 NW Harrison Boulevard. Come join us and show your support!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-56940995798839134622011-10-21T12:08:00.000-07:002011-10-21T12:46:47.324-07:00Bag It Corvallis Makes the News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFAsSY1nmgP46PkYD5MmP5LXVAv8xr26Ykf6cwXLnE8YjHSPmhuoMYeCfoCuIcslGbuzgnH1EIcQQDEDlDOIyB_oB3EfsUYsLtmZU1GDCCvH12W7VgWtjr8XX4HXU6Vi9nFi2oK7-u2h1/s1600/A_stack_of_newspapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFAsSY1nmgP46PkYD5MmP5LXVAv8xr26Ykf6cwXLnE8YjHSPmhuoMYeCfoCuIcslGbuzgnH1EIcQQDEDlDOIyB_oB3EfsUYsLtmZU1GDCCvH12W7VgWtjr8XX4HXU6Vi9nFi2oK7-u2h1/s200/A_stack_of_newspapers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Candice Ruud at the Gazette-Times interviewed Debra Higbee-Sudyka last week about our effort to ban single-use plastic bags here in Corvallis. The article was published in today's paper and it looks great! Here's a link:<a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_f6b216ee-fbb9-11e0-9929-001cc4c002e0.html"> Plastic bag ban gets push</a>.<br /><br />The article outlines some of the details that would make our ordinance more effective than the Portland ban. For instance, the 5-cent fee on paper bags will encourage the use of reusable bags (in Portland, most stores simply saw a huge switch to paper). The article also mentions how different local businesses might react to the ban. Some stores, such as Sibling Revelry, already don't use plastic bags. Others like The Clothes Tree hand out thicker plastic bags which can be used again and again. These thicker plastic bags wouldn't be banned by our ordinance, which targets only thin, single-use plastic bags.<br /><br />For more info, check out the <a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_f6b216ee-fbb9-11e0-9929-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story">story</a>, or stop by our screening of <i>Bag It</i> tonight at 6 p.m. at the Corvallis Public Library on Monroe Avenue. Our last screening of the documentary is set for Monday at 6 p.m. at OSU's Kearney Hall, 1491 SW Campus Way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-58674623959442305212011-10-17T12:36:00.000-07:002011-10-17T12:42:34.312-07:00Bag It Petition Goes OnlineSo far, we've gathered 599 signatures to support our proposed ordinance banning single-use plastic carryout bags in Corvallis. Now you can sign our petition online, too: <div style="display:block; clear:both"><br /><iframe src="http://www.ipetitions.com/widget/view/363162" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="width: 200px; height:145px; border:1px solid #cdced0; border-bottom:none; background-color:#e9eaeb;"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align:center; font-family:Arial;font-size:11px; width: 196px; margin-top: -5px; padding: 7px 2px 2px; border:1px solid #364950; color: #fff; background-color:#364950; border-top:none;"><br /> <a style="color: #fff; text-decoration:none;" href="http://www.ipetitions.com/">Online Petition</a> by <a style="color: #fff; text-decoration:none;" href="http://www.ipetitions.com">iPetitions.com</a><br /></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br /> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-307455-4']); _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', 'ipetitions.com']); _gaq.push(['_setAllowHash', 'false']); _gaq.push(['_setAllowLinker', true]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);})();<br /></script><br /></div>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-67285382100443184462011-10-17T11:38:00.000-07:002011-10-17T12:44:03.980-07:00Upcoming 'Bag It' Film ScreeningsThanks, everyone who attended our screening of <span style="font-style: italic;">Bag It</span> last night at the Unitarian Church! We've added another showing of the film on Monday, Oct. 24. Also, come and join the Bag Monster on Monday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the OSU Campus Memorial Union Quad. Here's the updated schedule:<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second free showing of the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Bag It</span>:</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>When</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Friday, Oct. 21</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -1in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Where</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Time</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">7 to 9 p.m.</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third free showing of the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Bag It</span>:</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>When</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>, Oct. 24</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -1in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Where</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">OSU Kearney Building, Room 112 (14th and Monroe), Corvallis<br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Time</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">6 to 8 p.m.</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;">Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-57009542230439687662011-10-06T12:34:00.000-07:002011-10-06T18:47:36.656-07:00October 'Bag It' Film Showings<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 78, 119);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Below is the description of the film </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bag It</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, which we're showing at two locations in Corvallis:</span><br /></b></span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 78, 119);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five minutes</b></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">—</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">single-use disposable bags that we mindlessly throw away. But where is “away?” Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to our environment, marine life and human health? </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Bag It</i></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic world. </span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeb is not a radical environmentalist, but an average American who decides to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with plastics. Jeb’s journey in this documentary film starts with simple questions: Are plastic bags really necessary? What are plastic bags made from? What happens to plastic bags after they are discarded?</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">When Jeb’s journey takes a personal twist, we see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up with us and what we can do about it. Today. Right now.</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First free showing of the movie Bag It:</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i></i></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>When</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Sunday, Oct. 16</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -1in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Where</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">UU Fellowship, 2945 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Time</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">7 to 9 p.m.</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second free showing of the movie Bag It:</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i></i></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>When</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Friday, Oct. 21</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 2.5in; text-indent: -1in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Where</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Corvallis Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 1.5in; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 80);"><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Time</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Eras Demi ITC,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;">7 to 9 p.m.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-6855117442284722112011-10-01T13:10:00.001-07:002011-10-02T20:00:17.904-07:00Bag Monster Comes to Corvallis!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar6G5GQXK2pHEtF2l2kmEYZvTABlBu2ztvbd9mIn6T7m-skzOsvcPrZLvejjaVBCM7D9dVKuO1kG3_AXfKbdrri97WdL_jExaoaKIHCbH_UlTAwpu5DzXy0EpeDzQoIXe-fKHq-JLSwE/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar6G5GQXK2pHEtF2l2kmEYZvTABlBu2ztvbd9mIn6T7m-skzOsvcPrZLvejjaVBCM7D9dVKuO1kG3_AXfKbdrri97WdL_jExaoaKIHCbH_UlTAwpu5DzXy0EpeDzQoIXe-fKHq-JLSwE/s400/IMG_5002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658621190557840194" border="0" /></a>Did you see the Bag Monster at today's Saturday Farmers' Market?<span class="email"> Debra Higbee-Sudyka of the Marys Peak Group donned the costume while students in the </span><span class="email">Student Sustainability Initiative</span><span class="email"> (SSI) at OSU gathered signatures to support our <a href="http://bagitcorvallis.blogspot.com/p/our-ordinance.html">ordinance</a>.<br /><br />The result? Overwhelming support from the community for a ban on single-use plastic bags and a 5-cent fee on paper bags to encourage the use of sustainable, reusable bags.<br /><br />We collected "dozens of pages" of signatures, reported </span><span class="email">Khang Nguyen, </span><span class="email">SSI</span><span class="email"> Waste Reduction Coordinator.</span><span class="email"> Too many to count!<br /><br />We've received "so much support, it's just amazing!" added </span><span class="email">Higbee-Sudyka.</span><br /><br />Thank you, everyone who signed our petition today -- including <span class="email">Carole and Naomi Petersen, who are pictured here (left to right) with the Bag Monster. On Monday, Nov. 7, we will go before the Corvallis City Council with your signatures and a draft of the ordinance.<br /><br />The Bag Monster -- and your chance to show support by signing our petition -- will return to the Corvallis Farmers' Market from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays during October.<br /></span>Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6509706349537469725.post-38595303354509835882011-09-30T00:35:00.001-07:002011-10-01T14:13:46.583-07:00Welcome!Welcome to Bag It Corvallis, a local effort to ban single-use plastic bags in Corvallis, Oregon, while focusing on a shift to reusable bags.<br />
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Plastic bags are a significant source of waste as they never biodegrade. Used once and then thrown away, these bags persist forever in the environment. In our oceans, they resemble jellyfish and are eaten by sea turtles, killing them. According to an <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-plastic-bag-wars-20110725">article published by Rolling Stone</a>, they litter beaches, clog sewers, kill wildlife, and are a "nightmare to recycle" as they jam the equipment, which adds more than 25% to labor costs at Oregon's biggest recycling plant.<br />
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Our goal is to pass a <a href="http://bagitcorvallis.blogspot.com/p/our-ordinance.html">town ordinance</a> to ban single-use plastic bags and institute a 5-cent fee on paper bags in Corvallis. We believe the 5-cent fee on paper bags is necessary to prevent a switch from one type of disposable bag to another and encourage the use of sustainable, reusable bags.<br />
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Over the coming weeks, check in regularly for updates on our efforts to promote the use of sustainable bags in Corvallis. Help us keep Corvallis green!Bag It Corvallishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577193722666278459noreply@blogger.com0