New Baggage
Most of us know by now not to put our recyclables in plastic trash bags, even when this means our recycling bins are perpetually sticky with juice and soda that dripped out of our old cans and bottles. This used to be the best-case scenario, aside from people throwing recycling into garbage bags, despite our best efforts to cut down on plastic bags in the landfill.
But local entrepreneur and environmental activist Mitch Barlas, who gave Santa Cruz its own handy reusable shopping bag, has found a new solution and is set to release his Bagito Bin Liners, which will also work for waste baskets. The liners, which will soon be available at New Leaf Community Markets, can be washed and used thousands of times. Net proceeds will fund an environmental literacy education program at county schools.
Detox Rocks
As groups like the county’s new Downtown Accountability Program and Encompass Community Services work together to tackle drug abuse in the community, the county’s League of Women Voters is inviting community members to join the discussion and maybe even be part of the solution, too.
Bill Manov, director of Santa Cruz County’s Drug and Alcohol Program, and Brenda Armstrong, the program’s manager, will fill the public in on the county’s strategic planning efforts for prevention, intervention, and substance-abuse treatment. The free Tuesday, Sept. 9 meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. at the County Health Services Agency’s 206/207 conference room. A seat can be reserved by calling 426-8683, or emailing at le****@lw****.org. Organizers say to bring a bag lunch. Bagito, anyone?
