{"id":12973,"date":"2015-09-08t23:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-08t23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/your-tuesday-tip-byob-bag-that-is\/"},"modified":"2015-09-08t23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-09-08t23:00:00","slug":"your-tuesday-tip-byob-bag-that-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/your-tuesday-tip-byob-bag-that-is\/","title":{"rendered":"your tuesday tip: byob (bag, that is)"},"content":{"rendered":"

it’s a new school year, so it’s time to set some goals. don’t forget to consider the environment along with your academic ambitions.<\/p>\n

we have an easy suggestion for you \u2014 and it’s not a new concept by any means, but it’s one we all should really make an effort to do: make it a goal to always have a reusable bag on hand. carry at least one in your book bag, purse, backpack, car or bike pouch at all times. most are foldable and some pack up in their own carrying case, which means you really have no excuse.<\/p>\n

why bother to make the (very small) effort? <\/p>\n

these days, some stores charge you a small fee for bags, while some give you a credit of a few cents for bringing your own. in most of the country, these fees are optional and at the discretion of retailers. but some counties, cities and states have passed laws mandating fees, like in the nation’s capital, which has had a bag tax<\/a> in place since 2010, and hawaii, which is the first state to ban plastic bags \u2014 granted, at the county level, not by the state legislature. (oahu became the last populated island in the state to ban the bags<\/a> as of july 1. though apparently there’s a bit of a loophole<\/a> there.)<\/p>\n

if a few pennies here and there is not enough motivation, take a look at the great pacific garbage patch<\/a>. it’s a giant swath of plastic trash \u2014 literally too large for scientists to trawl to measure, according to national geographic. not all of this, obviously, is plastic bags. but it’s certainly part of the problem. beyond pollution, the danger extends to marine animals<\/a> as well. <\/p>\n

bottom line? it’s way past time to ditch the plastic bag habit. solutions include:<\/p>\n