Wrigley Association

Long Beach residents are reminded to "Take a Tote" when shopping at
large grocery stores, big box retailers and large drug stores that sell
food and perishable items.  Beginning August 1, 2011, these stores will
no longer provide plastic carryout bags.  To see a complete list of
retailers that are scheduled to discontinue the distribution of plastic
carryout bags, please visit www.litterfreelb.org.

Long Beach retailers are gearing up to accommodate consumers who will soon be shopping at large grocery stores, big box retailers and large drug
stores that sell food and perishable items with tote bags in tow.  Bag
giveaway events kick into full gear this week.  For a listing of
upcoming events in your neighborhood, please visit
www.litterfreelb.org.  Additional reusable bag giveaway events may be
added to the schedule; please check periodically for the latest updates.

Reusable bag giveaway events that start this week:

Albertson's - July 25 through August 9
Shoppers  can earn a free reusable bag, while supplies last, when they spend $30 or more on qualifying products in a single transaction with their
Preferred Savings Card.  Participating locations include:
- 6255 East Second Street
- 644 Redondo Boulevard
- 101 East Willow Street
- 6235 East Spring Street
- 450 Long Beach Boulevard

Ralph's - July 26
Starting at 11:00 AM, Ralph's will give away 100 reusable bags at the participating locations below:
- 2250 East Carson Street
- 1930 Lakewood Boulevard
- 4250 Long Beach Boulevard
- 3380 Los Coyotes Diagonal

Ralph's - July 27
Starting at 11:00 AM, Ralph's will give away 100 reusable bags at the participating locations below:
- 6290 East Pacific Coast Highway
- 3210 East Anaheim Street
- 5760 East 7th Street
- 2930 East 4th Street

Vons - July 29 through July 31
Vons
shoppers will receive one free eco-friendly, reusable bag when they
spend $25, two free bags when they spend $50, and three free bags when
they spend $75 on qualifying purchases in a single transaction with
their VonsClub card and coupon.  Limit three free bags per household. 
Each of the participating locations below will have 3,000 free reusable
bags to give away:
- 1820 Ximeno Avenue
- 600 East Broadway
- 3900 East Ocean Boulevard
- 4550 Atlantic Avenue
- 5949 East Spring Street

Food For Less - July 31 through August 1
Free
reusable bags will be given to shoppers, while supplies last. 
Consumers at the participating locations listed below are eligible for
one free reusable bag per family.
- 6700 Cherry Avenue
- 2185 South Street

Target - August 1
Free reusable bags will be given to shoppers, while supplies last.  One free bag per purchase at the following Target locations:
- 6750 Cherry Avenue
- 2270 North Bellflower Blvd

arget
is also offering their signature reusable bags for 50 cents each during
the month of August.  These reusable bags are regularly priced at 99
cents each.

For additional information on the plastic bag ban,
please visit www.litterfreelb.org.  Created by the City of Long Beach,
this website provides information on the 10-cent charge per paper bag,
"Toting Tips", as well as a host of answers to Frequently Asked
Questions.

The Long Beach City Council voted to ban the
distribution of plastic carryout bags and approved a 10-cent per bag
charge for recyclable paper bags in May 2011. The plastic bag ban
ordinance is designed to:

- Reduce litter in our neighborhoods;
- Reduce plastic debris in our waterways and storm drains;
- Reduce waste transported to landfills; and
- Promote the use of reusable bags.

Under
this ban, retailers that discontinue plastic carryout bags will be
required to provide customers in the California Special Supplemental
Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children or the Supplemental Food
Program, with free reusable or paper bags.  Consumers may also choose to
purchase recyclable paper bags at a cost of 10-cents per bag.  The
10-cent fee will be retained by the retailer to assist with costs
associated with the ordinance, as well as educational materials designed
to encourage the use of reusable carryout bags.

The first phase
of the plastic carryout bag ban goes into effect August 1, 2011.  The
second phase of the ordinance goes into effect January 1, 2012.  In
addition to large grocery stores, big box retailers and large drug
stores that sell food and perishable items, the second phase applies to
neighborhood markets and pharmacies, convenience stores, bodegas,
sandwich and coffee shops, liquor stores and farmers' markets that sell
food and perishable items.

For more information about the Long Beach Plastic Carryout Bag Ban, please visit www.litterfreelb.org, contact tote@litterfreeLB.org or call 562.570.2876.

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