Press release from Washington Township Environmental Commission
Washington Township is joining the battle to reduce plastic pollution. The township will mark America Recycles Day on Thursday, Nov. 15, by kicking off a reusable bag campaign. Large, reusable shopping bags will be available to residents in exchange for 10 single-use plastic bags.
“We want to reach out to our residents to let them know that we care about our environment,” said Mayor Joann Gattinelli. “Each of these reusable bags is large enough to replace several plastic bags in an individual shopping trip, and can be used again and again. The multiplier effect can be exponential. For example, if one bag replaces 4 single-use plastic bags each week, that could eliminate more than 200 plastic bags in a year.”
Single-use plastic bags have become commonplace in daily commerce. They are low in cost, light-weight, and convenient. However, they do not breakdown readily, whether in the environment or in landfills, and the bags are often found littering the landscape and our waterways. While the useful life of one of these bags may be only 15 minutes, it can take 100 years or more to break down, and toxic chemicals are released during decomposition.
The reusable bags the township is offering are made from post-consumer waste material, and they are recyclable as well, although they are made to last a long time, even years. They are beige with the “Sustainable Washington Township” logo imprinted in green, and have a large capacity, ample enough for use in grocery shopping trips or visits to other retail stores.
“They’ll be ideal for holiday shopping,” said Gattinelli.
In the future, the Township will accept several other kinds of plastic and film packaging in the collection, but single-use plastic bags are the targets for the first stage of this campaign. The effort is part of the township’s efforts to implement practices and activities that reduce waste and energy consumption, enhance sustainability and quality of life. The township has recently received notification that it has earned certification as a sustainable community by the Sustainable Jersey program, for the second year in a row. The designation will be recognized at a luncheon on Nov.13 in Atlantic City, during the League of Municipalities annual meeting.
Residents can exchange single-use plastic bags for reusable bags will be available at the township’s Municipal Building at 523 Egg Harbor Road, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, only, the bags will also be available in the evening until 8 p.m.
