Press
Release		The City of Palo Alto
Public Information Office

250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301

11/04/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #11/04/2009
Subject :

Using Reusable Bags Help Charitable Causes
Contact :Annette Puskarich, Zero Waste Coordinator    650-496-5911
Palo Alto, CA – Shoppers can help charitable causes when shopping with reusable bags at select stores in Palo Alto. The City of Palo Alto is providing shoppers a handy "Make it a Habit and Grab It" reminder kit and Whole Foods, Palo Alto Hardware and Edwards Luggage are partnering with charities to put reusable bags to work for nonprofits.

  • Whole Foods offers shoppers the opportunity to donate their $.05 cent bag credit for each reusable bag to a specified nonprofit organization. The nonprofit beneficiary rotates each month and includes causes such as helping the homeless, animal shelters and environmental groups.
  • Palo Alto Hardware and Edwards Luggage have selected Palo Alto Partners in Education (PAPIE) as their partner and donate $.05 and $.25, respectively, to PAPIE each time a shopper brings their own reusable bag.

“Edwards Luggage has donated more than $1,500 to PAPIE and eliminated the distribution of thousands of bags at the same time. We are excited that our shoppers embrace bringing their own bag when shopping, which in turn supports PAPIE efforts in local public schools with academic enrichment, student support and more,” said Marty Reininger, owner of Edwards Luggage.

To help more shoppers remember their reusable bags whenever and wherever they shop to “Make it a Habit and Grab It,” the City has created a handy reminder kit to help them. The kit includes a static cling decal for the car, sticky notes and a sign for wherever, and a shopping list magnet for the fridge. In the end, it doesn't matter how you remember to bring your bag with you as long as you do.

Shoppers can pick up free reminder kits, while supplies last, at the locations below by asking their grocery or customer service clerk.
 
  •   Andronico’s- 500 Stanford Center
  •   JJ & F Market- 520 College Avenue
  •   Mollie Stone’s Market- 164 S. California Avenue
  •   Piazza’s Fine Foods- 3922 Middlefield Road
  •   Safeway- 2811 Middlefield Road
  •   Whole Foods Market- 774 Emerson Street

All Palo Alto businesses are invited to participate in the Bring Your Own Bag (BYOBag) campaign to help shoppers remember their reusable bags whenever, wherever they shop and help the community achieve its Zero Waste to landfills goal. Contact the City of Palo Alto Zero Waste Program for more information by calling (650) 496-5910 or visiting www.cityofpaloalto.org/BYOBag



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