Austin's Got A New Bag is a KAB education campaign to promote the use of reusable shopping bags and disposable bag recycling

We’re asking every Austinite to REDUCE your use of disposable bags.  Start using a REUSABLE bag and RECYCLE your paper and plastic bags.

WHY? 

Because disposable bags can have a negative impact on our environments

• Each year in the US we use 91 billion plastic bags and 10 billion paper bags
• The average family collects 60 plastic bags or 30 paper bags in just 4 trips to the grocery
• The production of disposable bags utilizes natural resources and causes pollution
• Only a small percentage of plastic bags are currently recycled
  
• It takes plastic bags 1,000 years to breakdown and paper bags take up a lot of space in the landfill

THE SOLUTIONS:

• Each reusable bag eliminates the need for 1,000 plastic bags or 500 paper bags over its lifetime
• Paper AND Plastic bags are recyclable

GET INVOLVED:

• School Plastic Bag Recycling
  
• Youth Design-a-Bag Art Contest
  
• Campaign Kick Off - April 5th at Waterloo park
  
• Reusable Bag Day - Wednesday, June 18th
  

RESOURCES:

Where can I buy a reusable bag?  How much do they cost?

You can purchase a reusable bag at select retailers in Austin including Central Market, HEB, Randalls, Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Whole Foods Market.  Each of these retailers sell a reusable bag for about $1 each.

Where can I recycle my disposable (paper or plastic) bags?

Plastic Bags can be recycled at the store-fronts of select retailers in Austin including Central Market, HEB, Randalls, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods Market.  Plastic bags can also be recycled at Cycled Plastics - visit  www.cycledplastics.com/Services for details. 
 

Paper Bags can be recycled curbside in Austin or at the Ecology Action Recycling Center. For details on recycling you can visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/recycling and www.ecology-action.org.

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