So, if you are:

• Shopping, bring your own bag and get rewarded!
• A Palo Alto business, join the community-wide effort to help promote reusable bags whenever, wherever people shop in Palo Alto. Reward shoppers for remembering their bag.

Remembering to bring my own bags when I shop is a challenge. Any tips for creating a new habit?
Click here for tips or email us your tip for how you remember to bring your own bag and we’ll add it to the list.

How do I get rewarded if I use by reusable bag when I shop?
Click here for the stores and rewards they offer. Many stores offer discounts, credits, drawings, and other rewards when you bring your own bag.

Survey says...
Surveys conducted in Palo Alto observing shopper's bag use habits at grocery stores and pharmacies show an increase in reusable bag use. Initial surveys conducted in February 2008 were repeated in February  2009. Here are the results:

• Grocery Stores: Resuable bag use increased from 9% to 19%. Shoppers opting for "no bag" increased from 8% to 16%.
• Pharmacies:  Reusable bag use increased from 2% to 5%. Shoppers opting for "no bag" increased from 25% to 28%.

Our goal is to increase reusable shopping bag use to 30% by December 2009.

We are also collaborating with cities in the nine Bay Area counties to raise awareness and increase reusable bag use. We call ourselves the Bay Area Regional Outreach Coalition (BayROC) and you can hear our radio and television ads and get other info about reusable bags at  www.igotmybag.org.

The State of California Integrated Waste Management Board estimates California retailers distribute more than 20 Billion disposable plastic and paper bags each year.

• The best alternative for the environment is a REUSABLE BAG. One reusable bag can eliminate thousands of single-use bags over its lifetime.
• Disposable, single-use plastic grocery bags are made from oil and natural gas, a non-renewable resource. Billions of plastic bags become litter and find their way into the marine environment where they can choke, strangle and starve wildlife and degrade water quality.
• Billions of paper bags are still being made from virgin tree pulp, instead of post-consumer recycled content paper.

What is a reusable bag?
The official (State of CA) definition is that it’s a bag with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and is either made of cloth or other machine washable fabric, and/or thick, durable plastic (at least 2.25 mils thick).

While you may choose to reuse paper or plastic bags, they are designed to be used once (aka disposable) so they are not considered reusable bags.

***** RESIDENTS *****

Bringing your own bag is an easy way to make a difference.

• Reduces Waste: One reusable bag can replace thousands of plastic and paper bags over its lifetime.
• Makes a BIG difference: Less waste means less air and water pollution and less energy consumption.
• Saves YOU money: Many stores offer discounts when you use your reusable bag.

How do I get rewarded for bringing my own bag when I shop?

• Click here for the stores and rewards they offer. Many stores offer discounts, credits, drawings, and other rewards when you bring your own bag.
• If you don’t see your favorite store on the list, ask them to reward their shoppers and join this community-wide effort. Contact us so that we can add them to the list of stores that reward shoppers.

Where can I buy reusable bags?
Click here for a list of Palo Alto stores selling reusable bags and sources for purchasing reusable bags online. 

***** BUSINESSES *****

Partner with the community in the BYOBag! Campaign

• Palo Alto retailers are invited to partner in the BYOBag! campaign that encourages shoppers to bring their own bag when they shop. Stores can partner by:
  • Selling and promoting reusable bags to their shoppers
  • Rewarding shoppers that remember their reusable bag (e.g., store discounts, bag credit, drawings)
  • Placing signs in your store, in your parking lot or planter area, on your cart corral (City provides at no charge, please contact us for details). 
  • Having employees wear a button  (City provides at no charge)

Who are the BYOBag! Campaign Partners?
Click here for a list of stores and the rewards they are offering.

***** SHARED BRING YOUR OWN BAG COLLATERAL *****
DOWNLOAD EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TOOLS 

The Zero Waste Program has created outreach and education tools to help shoppers remember their reusable bags.  Click here to download files to help shoppers BYOBag in your community.