Request for Orange County Partners
Earth Resource Foundation is very honored to be the lead agency on behalf of Heal
The Bay for the County of Orange. This is a big job as you know and we will need lots
of partners – cities, nonprofits, schools, etc. It is very simple to become a partner in
Orange County by completing the attached A Day Without a Bay Partnership Form.
FAQs
What is a Day Without a Bag?
A grassroots day of education and action on Dec. 18 challenging holiday shoppers to
forego one-time, plastic shopping bags for the day in favor of reusable shopping bags.
What will happen on site?
Earth Resource Foundation and its partners are organizing media events at 2 high-profile retail areas or
centers in Orange County. Bag give aways and reusable bag educational opportunities will take place
simultaneously at satellite sites. Our goal is to distribute thousands of free, reusable bags to shoppers
(with celebrity and electeds involvement.) Countywide we are hoping to partner with supermarkets and
retail stores willing to create a program for Dec. 18, A Day Without a Bag.
Last year, our L.A retail partners (Ralphs, Food 4 Less, 99¢ Only Stores, Fred Segal and Bed Bath &
Beyond) created a variety of programs: giving a free reusable bag to customers who spent a certain
amount on purchases that day; doubling an existing reusable bag rebate; giving out a free reusable bag
(one per customer)for a specified time period. A viral and traditional media campaign in advance of Dec.
18 will raise awareness and drive traffic to a coalition web page, where users can accept the reusable
bag challenge and find involvement opportunities in communities all over the county.
What do we hope to accomplish?
The day is primarily a vehicle for raising consumer awareness about personal choices. Thus, the day’s
focus is on education rather than overt advocacy. The event empowers shoppers and the community at
large to take direct action to eliminate unsightly debris and save taxpayer dollars.
 More than 6 billion plastic bags are used in Orange County each year.
 Disposable bags cost our fiscally strained cities up to 17 cents per bag for disposal (not including
environmental costs).
 Plastic bags are made from fossil fuels. Americans use over 380 billion bags every year, throwing
away this precious, non-renewable resource.
Are there larger strategic goals?
Based on the enormous success of Heal the Bay’s A Day Without a Bag in L.A last year, we hope it can
serve as a linchpin in the drive to reduce use of disposable plastic shopping bags throughout the state.
Who are our Los Angeles partners?
We will continue to grow relationships established last year with government bodies, like-minded groups
and selected retailers. Currently 22 municipalities, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and Los Angeles
County, have proclaimed the third Thursday of December as A Day Without a Bag. Our goal is to double
the number of city proclamations this year. Our reusable bag coalition is 23 community/environmental
groups strong. The coalition expands the outreach through campaign links on websites and emails to
members.
What is media hook?
“A Greener Holiday” – fresh twist on typical end of year shopping story. We will be offering a gift (a
reusable bag) to shoppers so they can give back to the environment. With New Year approaching, we
want all shoppers to make resolution to adopt more sustainable practices year round.
Earth Resource Foundation | P.O. Box 12364 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | www.earthresource.org
Who is organizing all the details?
Earth Resource Foundation’s experienced Programs Department is working with partners to plan and
implement event logistics. For more information, contact Earth Resource Foundation’s Executive DirectorStephanie Barger at 949-645-5163 or e-mails her at Stephanie.Barger@earthresource.org.
Orange County Community Group & Retail Partners requested
Please contact us to become our partner and help us make a difference. For more details, please visit our
website- www.earthresource .org or call us at 949-645-5163.
L.A Community Group Partners
*Denotes organizations that captained bag giveaway locations.
*Algalita Marine Research
*Amigos de los Rios
*Anahuak Youth Soccer Association
*Ballona Creek Renaissance
*Ballona Network
Californians Against Waste
CoejlSC
Earth Resource Foundation
Environment California
Green Sangha
*Heal the Bay
The Interfaith Environmental Council
*Malibu Surfing Association
*Mujeres de la Tierra
Pacific American Volunteer Association
*Palisades Cares
*Palisades Green Initiative
*Tree People
*Santa Monica Baykeeper
Sierra Club
*Surfrider (Malibu Chapter)
*Urban Semillas
California Coastal Coalition
L.A Retail Partners
99¢ Only Stores
Earth Resource Foundation | P.O. Box 12364 Costa Mesa, CA 92627 | www.earthresource.org