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In order to promote the usage of reusable bags among the residents, the city officials in Corvallis are hosting the Corvallis Reusable Bag and Logo Contest. This contest is open to all the residents of the city, and is being organized to help them adjust to the recent ban on single-use plastic bags. The residents who wish to take part in this contest can send in their entries by the 31st of January. Once all the entries are collected, the winners of this contest will be announced, and will be given a prize amount. Corvallis Reusable Bag and the Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags In the past one year, many cities and counties within the U.S. have banned the usage of single-use plastic bags in their premises. In the city of Corvallis, this ban was implemented from the 1st of January, 2013. According to this ban, all the retailers who have more than 50 employees in their shops or stores need to ban plastic bags in their premises. The retailers who have a fewer number of employees have time till the month of June to implement this change. A Contest to Promote Custom Printed Shopping Bags with Corvallis Reusable Bag This contest, which is being organized by the city officials in Corvallis, has three categories under which the residents can send in their entries. In the first category, the residents need to submit reusable bags made out of new and innovative materials. The second category is devoted to recycled materials, so the residents need to use recycled materials to make a reusable bag for this part of the contest. The third category is meant for the best logo design. The winners of this contest will be chosen through a voting system. The residents will be allowed to vote for the shortlisted options, along with the Mayor. The shortlisted custom printed shopping bags and logo designs will be displayed at the Memorial Union Ball Room in the Oregon State University. These bags will be displayed on the 5th of February, before and after a fashion show that is supposed to take place at the venue. The first two categories of this contest will be judged together, while the third category that is based on the logo design will be judged separately. The winners of the best reusable bag design will get a prize amount of $200, while the winners of the best logo design will win a gift bag worth $90. The results of this contest are expected to come out on the 13th of February. Source

In an effort to reduce litter and protect marine life in the Puget Sound Sea, Seattle has introduced a ban on thin plastic shopping bags. Six months after the ban, there are mixed reactions from store owners and shoppers. While some are supporting the ban enthusiastically, others are not so happy with the inconvenience caused and the financial burden incurred. Cheap Reusable Bags Gaining Popularity in Seattle Residents of Seattle are gradually adjusting to the switch from plastic bags to cheap reusable bags. Although some shoppers feel slightly inconvenienced due to not remembering to carry their own bags, almost 64% of shoppers support the ban and over 50% of shoppers have already started carrying their own reusable bags while going for shopping. A survey by Environment Washington studies almost 900 shoppers and suggests that people are increasingly developing the trend of carrying their own shopping bags. The survey suggests that women are more supportive of the ban then men and that the youth has better acceptance for the ban than middle-aged citizens. Considering that it has been merely 6 months since the ban was implemented, the response to the ban has been quite encouraging. A lot of citizens feel that this ban is needed and is beneficial towards cleaning up the environment. Cheap Reusable Bags – the Only Choice for the Residents City officials of Seattle have implemented a ban on plastic shopping bags so as to prevent non-biodegradable waste from being dumped into the Puget Sound Sea and help save sea life. After 6 months of the implementation of this ban, the city council members are rather pleased with the response. This comes in light of the fact that the last time this ban was proposed in 2009, it could not be implemented. The plastic industry spent 1.4 million dollars on a ballot and residents voted against the ban. However, this time around, people who had voted against the ban previously have also shifted to carrying their own reusable shopping bags. Seven cities in Washington have currently implemented the ban on plastic shopping bags. These include the cities of Bellingham and Issaquah. Deliberations are going on in Shoreline, Anacortes, and Thurston County. Environment Washington is hoping to find a sponsor so that a bill can be passed, which would implement this ban across the entire state. The Problems with Regard to the Ban Store owners believe that the 5 cent charge imposed on every reusable bag is inadequate to meet the cost of procuring these paper bags. Moreover, shoppers are not happy to pay for a bag after having shopped for hundreds of dollars in a store. A lot of shoppers still don't remember to carry their own bag at the time of shopping, and this puts them at inconvenience. Tourists who are unaware of this ban are particularly affected since they don't always carry shopping bags with them. Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020158488_bagbanxml.html

Although organic farming makes agricultural produce more expensive, this technique is gaining popularity as consumers are opting for chemical-free and pesticide-free foods. More farmers in the U.S. are now opting to get their products certified as organic. More Land Being Devoted to Organic Farming Most of the regions in the world today are increasingly switching to organic farming. However, the US is seen to lag behind in this regard. The pacific region countries including New Zealand and Australia have over 12 million hectares of land dedicated to organic farming, followed by Europe with 10 million hectares and Latin America with 8.4 million hectares of land. Asia and Africa have 3 million and 1 million hectare of land used for organic farming. The sales of organic products in the U.S. market have been seen to rise at a higher rate than the area of land under organic farming. Organic food sales were worth 31.5 billion dollars in 2011. A large number of third party organizations are coming forward to certify farmers for using organic practices. Farmers are now turning to organic farming as they realize the benefits they can reap out of it. Benefits of Organic Farming and Eco-Friendly Promotional Items Organic farming is beneficial not only to consumers buying organic products, but also to the farmers involved. Organic foods are free from synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Many synthetic chemicals are known to be carcinogens. Further, organic farming practices are healthy for the ecosystem. These practices introduce important nourishment to the soil and enable the soil to preserve water. This ability is very important in drought-prone areas that often face shortage of water. Drought renders land unable to be cultivated. Organic farming practices can reduce this problem to a large extent. An added incentive for farmers to get certified as organic producers is the fact that they can sell their products at higher rates in the market. The heavy demand for organic foods ensures that farmers make a good profit, while at the same time reducing depletion of nutrients from their land soil. Other Countries That Have Adapted Organic Farming to a Large Extent The biggest market for organic products is in Europe and North America. However the maximum number of organic producers is from India and the Malvinas Islands. The greatest area of land under organic farming is in Australia. Most countries around the world have realized the importance of organic farming. These include India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, France, UK, Italy, US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and many more. The growing number of such countries shows that organic products and eco friendly promotional items are being widely accepted by people far and wide. Source

In the year 2013, Thurston County is going to join the long list of cities and counties that are contemplating on whether or not they should ban the usage of single-use plastic bags, within their premises. At present, the retailers within the county are against this proposition as they feel that plastic bags are a convenient option for the customers as well as for them. However, the solid waste officials within the county are of a different opinion, and they feel that these bags should be banned immediately. The Contrasting Opinions on the Proposed Ban in Thurston County At present, the officials in the Thurston County are looking at both the views that are being expressed with regard to the proposal of banning plastic bags. While the solid waste authorities within the county want the ban to be implemented instantaneously, the retailers within the county have opposed the ban. The officials from the solid waste management committee feel that the retailers have a very restricted view of plastic bags, and don't understand the impact that they have on the environment. Therefore, they are going to try and explain the benefits of this ban to the retailers. According to the Washington Retail Association, such matters should be addressed with a statewide or a nationwide approach. This is because if different counties and cities have different ordinances on the same issues, the retailers will have to go through extra trouble to make their sales. The retailers feel that the usage of plastic bags will help them maintain uniformity in selling their products across the U.S. Furthermore, these bags provide more protection to the retailers in instances of bad weather. That is why retailers are opposing the ban on single-use bags. Thurston County Ways to Incorporate Promotional Reusable Bags According to the retailers, promotional reusable bags can be incorporated in the present system by giving the customers the choices between plastic, paper, and reusable bags. The retail industry clarified that it understands the environmental issues that rise with the usage of plastic bags, and want to take measures to combat them. However, they feel that a strict ban on any commodity only causes inconvenience to the people. So the retailers have requested the city officials to keep the current system in place, that is, let the customers have the option to choose between paper, plastic, and reusable bags. Furthermore, the retailers are encouraging the city officials to find suitable ways to have recycled plastic bags instead of banning them completely. Source

A proposal for a recycling center to be set up by Lakeshore Waste Services, in the Morton Grove region, may be put on hold. This is because the company is going through a merger at present. Lakeshore Waste Services is merging its waste management company with Lakeshore Recycling systems. Lakeshore Recycling Systems is a waste management organization situated in Chicago. The President of Lakeshore Recycling Systems, Joshia Connell, confessed that both the companies are facing a few differences at present. Therefore, the company is concentrating on resolving internal conflicts, which has put the proposal for the recycling center on the backseat. The Reasons for the Lakeshore Waste Delay At a recent Village Board meeting, the spokespersons for Lakeshore Waste Services were asked about their upcoming recycling center in the Morton Grove region. During this meeting, the officials from the organization explained that their proposal for a new recycling center has been postponed. The officials stated that their merger with Lakeshore Recycling Systems is the primary cause for this delay. According to Connell, the decision on the recycling center may not be finalized for a few months, or even in a year's time. The Village President, Dan Staackman, stated that the company is planning on using Morton Grove as its headquarters. Currently, the company's site in the village is used for maintenance purposes, and for storing vehicles. Staackman expressed the village's willingness to construct a recycling center. As a matter of fact, he assured Connell that the village committee would study the various applications of the recycling center, and would come up with possible ways of putting it into action. However, in order to get the recycling center approved, Staackman stated that the company will have to apply to special permit. The company will also have to explain the benefits that this center will have, in the context of the village. Even though the village committee is willing to hear the proposal that Lakeshore Waste Services has prepared, there are few groups in the village that think this proposal will be detrimental to their neighborhood. According to Tom Maddex, the Head of “Citizens to Stop Morton Grove Garbage,” more than promoting eco friendly promotional items, the recycling center will bring rodents and mosquitoes to the vicinity. Along with Maddex, some of the other residents have a mixed opinion about the proposal as well, which is probably influencing the company's delay in the construction of the recycling center. Lakeshore Waste - An Effort to Encourage Eco-Friendly Promotional Items The Trustee of the company, Danny DiMaria, is hoping that the officials from the company will be able to interact with the residents of the village so as to convince them about the positive impacts of the recycling center and promote the importance of using eco-friendly products. However, whether the company will act on this plan or not is still under ...

Since the commencement of 2013, many counties and cities in the United States have implemented the ban on the usage of plastic bags. Albany is one among many cities that have implemented this ban as well. Many retailers and shop-owners have implemented this ban in their stores within the city limits. Some of the restaurants in the region have also implemented this ban. As a matter of fact, Ray's Food Place, a popular restaurant in North Albany, has implemented this ban from the 14th of January. Ray's Food Place's Decision to Use Bamboo Fiber Bags Ray's Food Place is a member of a bigger chain known as C&K Market. C&K Market announced recently that all of its outlets will ban the usage of plastic bags. According to the spokesperson of the company, Grant Lunde, the ban on single-use plastic bags is now a part of the company policy. As a company, C&K is extremely concerned about its environmental footprint and has always been responsible towards its customers. Therefore, the company has decided to implement this change in all its business branches. At present, when the customers enter any store that is linked to C&K, they have the option to buy a reusable bag from the store at an amount of 99 cents. Or, the consumers can bring their own reusable bags to the store as well. The reusable bags that are offered by the company are made using organic materials and can be reused by the customers for various purposes. However, if the customers bring their own reusable bag at the store, they will be given a discount or a 5 percent rebate on their purchases. According to Lunde, such a system will encourage the usage of reusable or recyclable bags among the residents, and thus the burden on the landfills utilized for waste disposal will also decrease. Using Eco-Friendly Materials to Make Reusable Bamboo Fiber Bags Even though all the consumers have the option of purchasing reusable bags from various retailers, they can make their own reusable bags using eco-friendly materials. By making their own reusable bags, the customers will not only recycle the materials at home, but they will also save up on money. There are many materials that can be used to design reusable bags, such as cotton, jute, and old cloth pieces. Furthermore, shoppers who want to make a style statement through their reusable bags can try creating bamboo fiber bags and designer jute bags as well. Source

With the new year setting in, the fashion industry is set to launch the fashion trends for 2013. Apart from the latest styles that the brands will introduce, Baabaazuzu, a well-known name in the eco-fashion industry, has come up with a new range of eco-friendly products that will attract all the eco-friendly customers out there. This new range of clothes includes accessories and many other wearable creative outfits as well. Baabaazuzu – Encouraging Eco-Fashion Baabaazuzu is a brand name that is very popular among the environmentally conscious buyers. This company is known for its innovate designs and use of fabrics. The company deals in products such as handbags, hats, scarves, jackets, shirts, and many other clothing items. To celebrate its upcoming anniversary, the company is launching a brand new spring clothing line. This spring line will consist of clothes that are suitable for the male as well as the female population. Some of the most awaited products in the Baabaazuzu spring line are pure cotton shirts for men and vintage dresses for women. To make cotton shirts for men, the company utilizes 100 percent organic material, while to make vintage dresses for the women, it uses old vintage table cloths. This company is particularly famous in the Michigan region, and has received a lot of appreciation from eco-fashion enthusiasts all over the U.S on their website as well. Recycling Can Help Create Eco-Friendly Products Like Bamboo Fabric Bags Apart from producing fashionable accessories for the residents of the United States, Baabaazuzu believes in addressing other environmental issues as well. In 2012, the company expanded their usage of wool, especially in the men's wear category. According to the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the company, Sue Burns, the company is excited to take up initiatives that would help in fighting any kind of environmental issues. She confesses that last year, when the company utilized a lot of wool in their clothes, she use to tell the customers that the company is saving wool from being disposed into waste disposal landfills. Thus the company likes to invest in materials that would otherwise be disposed into landfills. Sue encourages people to experiment with their choice of fabric as well. There are many materials that have not been utilized by designers extensively but these materials might work out very well for accessories if not for dresses. For instance, bamboo fabric bags, paper shoes, and jute items created from these materials can be considered as extremely fashionable accessories. Source

The city council of Williamson County is making efforts to revamp its recycling system in order to make it more efficient.  The commissioners in the county have made the proposal for a new recycling program, and are expecting to implement it in the forthcoming weeks. The formal guidelines of this program will be discussed in a special meeting, sometime towards the end of January. This meeting will be a crucial step in implementing this plan within the county. The New Recycling Program In Williamson County According to the Chairman of the county board, Ron Ellis, the new recycling system will help the county in organizing its recycling activities. The county board that has come up with the proposal of this new change has been working on it since the past month. According to the new proposal, the existing private businesses that help current pickups of waste across the county and pay a fee of around $100 annually need to be eliminated. According to experts, the present recycling system is logistically hard to maintain. At present, there are 4 recycling centers within the city. Most of these centers have a three-day schedule which is tiresome for all the workers. Therefore, the commissioners feel that the county needs to treat recycling as a beneficial activity for the state, and not as a profit-making business, because that leads to logistic difficulties. The commissioners feel that the city council should undertake all the recycling activities themselves, as that would make the system more organized. However, with this amendment, they don't intend on discouraging the private businesses that are involved in recycling activities. One of the commissioners on the board, Jim Marlo, states that the private businesses should continue their recycling activities even after the change in the system. As a matter of fact, in order to conduct their activities, the private businesses just need to get in touch with the local waste haulers. To make the process clearer, Marlo has drafted letters that will be sent out to the private businesses to inform them about the change in detail. Williamson County Recycling System to Encourage Eco-Friendly Promotional Items According to Ellis, recycling activities should aim at encouraging eco friendly promotional items and not making profits. Therefore, it is wrong for the city council to compete with the private industry that deals with waste disposal. Brent Gentry, another commissioner, agrees with Ellis and feels that recycling programs undertaken by the county should be educational in nature and should encourage eco friendly behavior among all the residents, especially the children. According to experts, the new system will help in diluting the profits in the present recycling system, and thus it should be implemented. Source

Robert von Goeben and Laurie Hyman, the co-founders of Green Toys Inc., have taken environmentalism one step further with their line of go-green toys. The company manufactures toys from environmentally friendly materials like recycled plastic, and strives to conserve the use of fossil fuels to save the planet. Go-Green Toys' Products with the Touch of ‘Made in USA' Green Toys Inc. has its manufacturing facilities in the United States. The main factory is based in San Leandro, California and adds a proud touch of Made in USA to the products. The international markets for Green Toys include China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. The products of the company have gained popularity worldwide because of the high safety standards followed in the United States. The company makes use of recycled milk containers in their manufacturing process. The containers are processed by recycling companies and reprocessed by Green Toys Inc., to make fresh and clean plastic. This material is technically known as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). It is among the most resilient and safest plastics used for manufacturing toys. Their products do not contain BPA, PVC, or Phthalates that are known to be harmful components. Go-Green with an Extension to Eco-Friendly Promotional Items The raw materials for creating the toys at Green Toys Inc. are obtained from local recycling facilities that provide recycled plastic, wholesale reusable bags and green shopping bags, etc., in and around California. Transportation of raw materials plays a major factor in increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The raw materials, packaging materials, supply chains, and retail stores are all located in the United States, and mainly in California, reducing need for transportation. This way the company contributes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The products are tested for safety hazards by nationally recognized laboratories, and they abide by all the safety regulations set by the State of California. In addition to the green toy making process, the company also uses eco-friendly packaging. The boxes are recycled and corrugated. They do not harbor any plastic, cellophane, or twines. The boxes are also 100% recyclable and can be reused. For holidays, the company uses eco friendly promotional items to educate the public about their cause. They do not only promote their products but the idea behind their organization – to conserve and protect the environment. Green Toys Inc. products include airplanes, trucks, blocks, tea sets, dish sets, and many more enjoyable, child-friendly, and eco-friendly toys. Green Toys Inc. is so far the only company that makes 100% eco-friendly toys from 100% recycled materials. Source

In an effort to try and curb the solid waste management disposal issues in the city, the city council in Ohio is planning on investing approximately $300 million on a developmental project. The proposal for this project has been presented by SWACO or the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, and the expenses of the procedure will be handled by them as well. With the implementation of the new plan, the officials will be able to divert a substantial amount of waste from the landfills to the recycling centers. Furthermore, this project will also help businesses that use recyclables as raw materials. The Project Proposed by Solid Waste Management This new project that has been proposed by SWACO will be carried out in collaboration with the Gemini LLC. Gemini LLC has its headquarters in Florida. This team specializes in constructing waste sorting facilities. For this particular project, the Gemini LLC team will build a facility next to the landfills used for waste disposal. In the new system, the recyclables will be sorted out from the waste at the landfills, and with the help of a conveyor belt they will be transported to the facility that Gemini LLC will build next to the landfills. At the facility center, the recyclables will be further segregated into materials that can be used to generate power and produce materials that can be converted into eco friendly promotional items. Apart from increasing the recycling rates, this project also aims at developing a green themed industrial park in Ohio, in the coming few years. If the green themed industrial park is developed, companies that deal with recycled or eco-friendly products will be able to purchase their raw materials at the park itself. Furthermore, the offices at the industrial park will be able to use the resources present in the park for their energy needs and even their products. According to Gemini LLC, this project will create close to 300 jobs for the residents of Ohio, and will also create approximately 500 construction jobs during the construction stage. After the completion of the project, Gemini LLC will sign a lease with SWACO, and the lease is expected to last for 99 years. Solid Waste Management Encouraging Eco-Friendly Promotional Items Through the Facility According to Ron Mills, the Executive Director at SWACO, with the new facility in place, approximately 1,000 tons of garbage will be transferred from the landfills to the recycling centers. Thus, the life of the landfills will increase substantially, as people will recycle more and businesses will have the opportunity to utilize eco-friendly raw materials as well. Source