Green Neighbors' Bring Your Own Bag campaign highlights the growing problem of microplastics in our oceans and the devastating impact it is having on marine life and our food chain. Plastics are non-biodegradable and are accumulating in our environment at ever-increasing rates. Our hope is more and more people will stop using plastics whenever possible.  We can stop using plastic bags, shop with reusable bags, and if plastic bags are used we can insure they are properly discarded or recycled.  This should be the case for all plastics, including plastic bottles, bottletops, and containers, as plastics persist in the environment.  It is each of our responsibility to recognize the problem that plastic has presented to our generation -- disposable, cheap, and non-biodegradable has proven to be a toxic combination. See pictures of the Pacific Ocean trash vortex.

At GN's BYOB kick-off in spring 2009, a multimedia presentation starred our compelling slideshow Plastics Are Forever and a children’s video about the Pacific Ocean's gigantic plastic Garbage Patch. Cabin Johner Tom Rojas' farm truck was filled with 350 pounds of plastic trash pulled from local Minnehaha Creek.  Charts mapped our local watersheds' flow into the Chesapeake Bay, impressing just how close to home this problem begins.

At the event, Green Neighbors unveiled our community-sponsored reusable tote bag in all its glory!  One thousand totes were made in the USA of 100% recycled plastic bottles and their production was sponsored by 26 local businesses, churches, and citizens associations.  Bags were distributed to residents at the event along with a dashboard reminder sticker to help shoppers remember to bring bags into stores and a flyer about the problem with plastics.

Attendees enjoyed the music of BG and the Mojo Hands, Dana Verkouteren's caricature drawing, and grilled food served Chez Bramman Avery.  Our hero Recycle Man (aka Rich Kepler) made a return appearance, on the tail of — you guessed it -– Plastic Man!  Recycle Man challenged Plastic Man to a duel, as menacing Plastic Man threatens to dominate the planet for thousands of years to come.  Plastic Man put up a serious fight, but thanks to Recycle Man and the heckling from attendees, Plastic Man was defeated and retreated back to his hiding place in the farm truck's trash heap.

American Plant, the Bethesda Coop, Borders and Butterflies, and the Montgomery County’s Division of Solid Waste had tables describing their services.  Educational activity tables helped children learn about plastic recycling and the problem with plastics.  Sixth grade 'eco-ambassador' Truce Jack displayed her school project, the Cabin John Community Native Plant Project.  We are grateful to Anthony and Elizabeth Wilder who generously offered us their parking lot and conference room for the event.