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Environment

Group Pushes Reusable Bags Over Plastic In San Diego

A cashier bags groceries in plastic bags at Nijiya Market June 2, 2010 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan
A cashier bags groceries in plastic bags at Nijiya Market June 2, 2010 in San Francisco, California.
Group Pushes Reusable Bags Over Plastic In San Diego
San Diego County has proclaimed Thursday, December 15, as a "Day Without A Bag." San Diegans use billions of plastic bags that wind up in the oceans and pollute roadways.

The Surfrider Foundation said San Diegans use more than 1.7 billion plastic bags each year.

Marisa Espinosa with the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation said the single-use bags clog waterways, harm wildlife and litter our beaches and streets.

"Why should we use something once and it's going to be around forever," said Espinosa. "Plastics never biodegrade, they photodegrade, so that means they break down into smaller pieces. So they're going to be around forever."

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She said Surfrider members will be handing out reusable bags Thursday afternoon at various markets in San Diego County.

The EPA reported that less than five percent of plastic bags are actually recycled, and many are made from non-renewable fossil fuels.