Residents are invited to join thousands of shoppers throughout the City of Santa Clarita by giving up plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags as part of “A Day Without a Bag” on Thursday, Dec. 20.

Currently, Californians use more than 19 billion plastic grocery and merchandise bags every year, which generates over 147,000 tons of unnecessary waste. More than 6 billion of these bags are used by Los Angeles County residents, which equates to approximately 600 bags a year per person.

“Plastic bags pose a serious danger to the environment in polluting our landfills, local rivers and drains, wildlife and aesthetic appeal,” says Mayor Bob Kellar.  “By spending a day without a plastic bag, community members can not only decrease the amount of waste entering landfills but also help protect the environment.”

To help raise awareness for this campaign, the City will provide free, reusable bags to community members at the Valencia Library, Old Town Newhall Library and Canyon Country Library during regular business hours on Thursday, December 20.  The complimentary bags are limited and available on a first come basis to patrons of the Santa Clarita Library.

Presented by Heal the Bay, A Day Without a Bag is an educational, outreach effort in partnership with community groups, businesses and individuals throughout the state of California.

For more information on “A Day Without a Bag,” please contact Mark Patti in the City’s Environmental Services division at (661) 286-4173 or visit GreenSantaClarita.com.