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Coastal Cleanup Month: Spotlight on Regional Ambassadors

09.21.2020 |

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For the first time ever, Coastal Cleanup Day has transformed into Coastal Cleanup Month, a month-long event to celebrate our watersheds and coastline with decentralized cleanups, educational programming, and virtual events.

Every single one of us makes an impact no matter where we are in Los Angeles County. The mission of Coastal Cleanup Month, beyond cleaning up our streets, creeks, trails, and coast, is to show how closely we are all connected by our watershed. What happens in the mountains makes its way through our creeks and rivers, and the litter we see on our streets eventually ends up on our beaches via the storm drain system. 

Heal the Bay has coordinated the Coastal Cleanup effort in Los Angeles for more than 30 years, and we are so thankful to our Site Captains for making the program as successful and impactful as it is. This year, our Captains were tasked with a new challenge: to help us encourage countywide cleanups while also making sure our community stays safe and healthy during these turbulent times. With their support, the role of Site Captains transformed into Regional Ambassadors.

Many of our Regional Ambassadors work for partner organizations that focus on environmental stewardship, conservation, and education throughout LA County, from summit to sea. Today, we are spotlighting some of our amazing Regional Ambassadors from each region!

 

Mountains

Dave Weeshoff, San Fernando Valley Audubon Society

Dave has been a site captain for 6 years. Not only is he this year’s Mountains Ambassador, he is also an avid bird watcher and works on conservation efforts for the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society. He even starred in our 2020 Coastal Cleanup Month video!

“In Los Angeles County alone, we can see well over 270 species of birds each year. Bird watchers enjoy sharing their observations, and so I learn each week where unusual sightings occur, including our seashores, lagoons, harbors, parks, marshes and of course our magnificent San Gabriel Mountains. The additional biodiversity of this high elevation watershed and its forests is easily accessed by way of the Angeles Crest Highway, which begins not far from my home, and is inviting to many resident and migratory birds throughout the year.”

Dave’s favorite cleanup site and happy place, the San Gabriel Mountains, has unfortunately been affected by the Bobcat Fire. While this put a hold on his cleanup efforts throughout Coastal Cleanup Month, he has been enjoying the local parks and cleaning his neighborhood when he can.

Kelsey Reckling, Pasadena Audubon Society

Kelsey and Pasadena Audubon Society are using Coastal Cleanup Month to highlight the Arroyo, the natural watershed that starts in the San Gabriel Mountains and comes all the way down into our neighborhoods. It is home to many species of wildlife, but also a spot where trash often accumulates. Pasadena Audubon Society is encouraging members and anyone else in the area to help clean our mountain areas, the Arroyo, and our neighborhoods.

“I love driving up to the San Gabriels here in Los Angeles because it is so close to us, but it feels like you’re entering a new world. You get to see different plant species and different bird species at higher elevations and also get to have a new perspective,” said Kelsey. “On a clear day, you can look out and see downtown Los Angeles and all the way to the ocean, highlighting our different natural communities.”

 

Neighborhoods & Waterways

Keyla Treitman, Oak Park Unified School District

Keyla has been a resident of Oak Park for 27 years and chaired the Oak Park Unified School District’s Environmental Education and Awareness Committee for 11 years. 

“I feel we all have an obligation to leave a place cleaner than when we got there, a motto the Girl Scouts taught me long ago. Sustainability is a key concept that is important for children to learn so they can do their part to help. By educating them, it can become a natural extension of their daily lives.”

Keyla shared about Coastal Cleanup Month with the school district to encourage families to go out and clean their happy place. They are also working with the County of Ventura and volunteers to refresh the curb signs that read, “Don’t dump. Drains to creek.” at all of the storm drain inlets within Oak Park.

Mika Perron, Audubon Center at Debs Park

Mika is spearheading the Coastal Cleanup Month efforts for the Audubon Center at Debs Park. To help protect bird habitat around the LA River, Mika and her team are participating in cleanups along the LA River in the Elysian Valley and Atwater Village area. They are also cleaning up and maintaining the various habitat enhancement sites along the river, in order to continue building sustainable habitat for birds and other wildlife. 

“Our neighborhoods and waterways provide valuable habitat for local and migrating birds, while also providing a gateway for people to learn more about our urban ecosystem. Even if it’s just observing a few crows outside your window, or catching a glimpse of the rushing LA River when it rains, our neighborhoods and waterways provide a place where people can interact with nature in their everyday lives. Local waterways like the LA River are especially important to us because they connect many different neighborhoods and communities – they are not only an important resource for connecting people to nature, but also for connecting people to each other.”

 

Wetlands & Beaches

Patrick Tyrrell, Friends of Ballona Wetlands

Patrick grew up in Playa del Rey with the Ballona Wetlands as his backyard, inspiring a life-long passion for wetlands and wildlife. He turned that passion into a career by joining the team at Friends of Ballona Wetlands, and is our Wetlands Ambassador for Coastal Cleanup Month.

“Wetlands provide habitat to an amazing array of plants and animals – they are the world’s biological hotspots. They provide food and shelter that are critical to the survival of many species. Every time I travel, I always look up the local wetlands in the area I am visiting, as I know that I will get to see some amazing birds and wildlife.”

Patrick and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands staff are spending the month of September picking up trash along the Ballona Creek levees and Del Rey Lagoon. They are also cleaning up near the Least Tern colony on Venice Beach to ensure that they are not disturbed by the beach groomers that would normally rake the beach every morning.

Brittney Olaes, Roundhouse Aquarium

Brittney joined us as a Beaches Ambassador from the Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach, where she gets to share her passion for the ocean and marine life with her local community. 

“When imagining the beautiful vast ocean, it’s hard to narrow down its importance. The ocean is home to countless marine life and habitats. It provides comfort and relaxation to those who visit, jobs and security for those who depend on it, and food and supplies for those who survive off it. Even for those who do not directly interact with the ocean, the ocean is making an impact in our lives. From climate regulation to oxygen production, the ocean affects all life around the world.”

The Roundhouse Aquarium is celebrating Coastal Cleanup Month by virtually educating the community about where trash comes from and where it ends up, and encouraging environmental and community stewardship. They are also running a #TrashChallenge to challenge everyone to pick up trash every day in September.

Carl Carranza, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Carl’s lifelong passion for the ocean and marine life led him to become an Educator with 

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. He has been involved with Coastal Cleanup Day for 15 years, and this year, he is one of our Beach Ambassadors.

“Ever since I was a child, I was in love with the ocean, especially tidepools.  They have always been a source of joy and wonder for me, and ultimately led me to my degree in marine biology.  The ocean is a place I can always reconnect to nature and frees my imagination,” said Carl.

 

A big thank you to all of our Regional Ambassadors for helping make Coastal Cleanup Month a success! If you’re interested in getting involved and helping protect our watershed and coastline from wherever you live, visit healthebay.org/coastalcleanupmonth.

 

More Ways to Get Involved this Coastal Cleanup Month:

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#UnderwaterParksDay 2018 at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

01.16.2018 |

Heal the Bay AquariumHeal the Bay VideosMarine Protected Areas

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of our big beautiful Pacific Ocean? Ever pondered what animals lurk in the deep, both big and small?

But there’s just one hitch – you don’t know how to SCUBA dive or have the nerve to brave its chilly waters.

Celebrating #UnderwaterParksDay with “Underwater Treasure”

Well, we’ve got you covered with a new virtual exhibit called “Underwater Treasure” – at our Underwater Parks Day celebration in Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Families and friends of the sea are encouraged to come!

Our scientists will reveal the wonders of our local underwater paradises through a 360-degree experience. Donning special goggles, guests will have the opportunity to dive into the Catalina Island Long Point marine protected area and explore its vibrant marine life without getting wet.

Visitors to our new virtual exhibit will be able to see the animals that call the waters off Catalina Island home, including a peek at the endangered giant sea bass – the so-called ‘VW Bus of the Sea’. We thank our creative partner Alex Warham and his company Diatom Productions for making these astounding underwater images available to the general public.

All special activities are included with Aquarium Admission.

Honoring Marine Protected Areas

In 2011, a network of marine protected areas, or underwater parks, became effective in Southern California, providing safe haven for ocean wildlife. Heal the Bay spent years working with partners and the State of California to identify areas for these special places to be strategically located for enhancement of marine life populations.

Marine protected areas are present in the waters off of Point Dume in Malibu, Catalina Island, and Palos Verdes’ Abalone Cove and Point Vicente. We have continued on as guardians of our local marine protected areas through research, education, monitoring and advocacy programs.

Can’t join us for Underwater Parks Day? Come join us as an MPA Watch volunteer and help monitor these special places from shore in Malibu and Palos Verdes.

(En español)

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“Nature’s Revolt” Video: Watch Our Animated Response to Climate Change Deniers

04.25.2017 |

Climate ChangeHeal the Bay VideosTake Action

Heal the Bay has found a unique way to draw attention to the new administration’s attack on climate change science – a sea turtle with a ninja star.

The inspiring March for Science at cities around the nation has concluded, but the fight for rationality and reason lives on.

Many scientists and researchers working in the environmental field around the country feel as if they have a bulls-eye painted on their back – from the very government that has funded their important work for decades.

The new federal administration’s plan to curtail climate change research and to slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency has stoked deep concerns in the nonprofit world.

But Heal the Bay isn’t sitting by quietly. We’re getting quite animated about the issue – literally.

Today, we launched a 60-second PSA to rally digital advocates across the country to petition their Congressional representatives to oppose proposed budget cuts to EPA programs and staff. Public dissent is critical to ensure that essential air- and water-quality safeguards and habitat protections are not abandoned by climate deniers sitting in positions of federal power.

Heal the Bay’s partners in the advertising and animation industries shaped the spot, dubbed “Nature’s Revolt,” as part of a new creative coalition called Our Next 4 Years. Ironically riffing on over-the-top TV cartoon violence, the video offers a humorous take on marine animals fighting fire with fire.

Sarah May Bates, a veteran creative director in the advertising agency world, served as writer and art director on the spot, working with Matthew King, Heal the Bay’s communications director. Scott Graham provided animation, storyboards and character designs. (Full credits are below.)

“Climate change is a huge downer, but the EPA plays an essential role in sustaining this planet in the face of it,” Bates said. “To make a dire message more palatable, we imagined a scenario in which nature could fight back. At the very least, a crab with a rocket launcher can make an important message more engaging.”

Heal the Bay asks “Nature’s Revolt” viewers to take action and add their name to the Change.org/ProtectOurOceans petition seeking continued funding for climate programs at the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To date, nearly 75,000 ocean-lovers have added their signatures to the Heal the Bay-sponsored petition, covering every state and major overseas territory in the United States.

 

 

Bates previously collaborated with Heal the Bay on “The Majestic Plastic Bag,” the BBC-style nature mockumentary that has been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube, and featured in environmental conferences and classrooms around the world.

Our Next 4 Years is a collective of nearly 300 animation professionals (Emmy- and Oscar- nominees among them) who are donating their creative talents to produce animated PSAs for progressive causes that will be negatively impacted by policies put forth by the current administration.

“For each attempt to roll back hard fought social and economic gains won over the past 70 years, we will fight back with messages to help stem the regressive tide,” said Mike Blum, owner of boutique animation studio Pipsqueak Films. He is one of the co-founders of Our Next 4 Years, along with veteran animation producer Carolyn Bates.

Production teams are matched with other nonprofits to create virtual animation studios in order to tackle causes, including the environment, immigrant rights, affordable health-care, government reform and religious tolerance.

“So often, animated PSAs are out of reach of charities and community organizations, because we move fast and don’t have the long lead time that many animation houses insist on,” said Jayde Lovell, director of film and video for March for Science. “But working with Our Next 4 Years was incredible. They really brought our ideas to life in meaningful, funny and emotional pieces in a week’s time!”

The coalition has debuted eleven videos to date, including “Nature’s Revolt.” In just a few days, the four videos they released in time for Earth Day and March for Science have a combined reach of more than 600,000 people on Facebook. You can watch other videos here.

Full Credits: “Nature’s Revolt”

Animation, Storyboard & Character Designs:
Scott Graham, ScottGraham.carbonmade.com

Creative Director/Writer:
Sarah May Bates, SarahMayBates.com

Backgrounds:
Carolyn Arabascio

Animal Character Designs:
Regie Miller, MyNameIsRegie.com

Text Animation:
Daniela Fernandes Smith

Music:
Jeremy Simon, FurnivalMusic.com

Producer:
Carolyn Bates

Production:
Our Next 4 Years

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A Look Ahead at Heal the Bay’s 2017 Campaigns

02.15.2017 |

About UsBallona WetlandsHeal the Bay VideosTake Action

Heal the Bay has been making Southern California safer, healthier, and cleaner since 1985. Using the best science and grassroots community action, we mobilize campaigns that have lasting impact on our shorelines and neighborhoods. Here’s a sneak peek at the year ahead:

Thriving Oceans

Our local waters should be teeming with wildlife, not trash.

Rethink The Drink

Beverage-related items form the bulk of trash collected at our cleanups – plastic water bottles, straws, bottle caps, and bits of Styrofoam cups. To stem the deluge, we’re launching a community campaign encouraging people to go reusable, while our policy staff pursues regulations that hold dischargers responsible for drink-related waste.

Why It Matters: It’s estimated that plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean by the year 2050. We simply must end our addiction to single-use plastics if we want to reverse this frightening trend.

How You Can Help: Skip the straw. Pass on the plastic bottle. Forget the foam.

Healthy Watersheds

Vibrant shorelines depend on fully functioning urban creeks and rivers.

Cleaning Our Creeks

Our science and policy team will dramatically expand its water-quality monitoring program by launching regular analysis at more than a dozen locations along the L.A. River and Ballona Creek. Modeled after our A-to-F Beach Report Card, the new grading program will support public health and aquatic well-being throughout the watershed.

Why It Matters: We can’t expect our beaches and wetlands to be clean if the waters that feed them are filled with harmful pollutants. As we fight for tougher limits on polluters, this advocacy requires consistent and scientifically gathered data.

How You Can Help: Take a tour of the L.A. River or the Ballona Wetlands to understand the stakes. Curtail polluting runoff to our creeks by cleaning up after your pet, opting for copper-free brake pads, and curtailing fertilizer and pesticide use.

Smart Water

Los Angeles imports over 80% of its water – a number that’s far too high.

Re-Plumbing L.A.

The Southland needs to move beyond its centralized approach to water, which relies heavily on massive infrastructure – be it pumping water from the Sacramento Delta or Hyperion discharging millions of gallons of wastewater into the sea. Instead, Heal the Bay will lead the charge to invest in nature-based solutions, such as the L.A. City Council’s proposal to require “green street” capture-and-infiltrate features in all street, median, and parkway projects.

Why It Matters:  A resilient L.A. depends on the widespread adoption of strategies that maximize on-site management of all forms of water. No single entity can win the water wars single-handedly. Local water agencies, business, homeowners, and renters all need to manage water more wisely. Making the most of our local water resources will help keep more environmentally harmful and costly options, like ocean desalination, at bay.

How You Can Help:  Rip out your grass lawn. Break up a driveway. Support civic investment in stormwater capture.

Watch Video

Get the full scoop from Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bay’s Vice President (2-minute video).

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Día de Los Muertos: An Eerie Video For Prop 67

10.27.2016 |

California Bag BanHeal the Bay VideosTake Action

October 28, 2016 — Día de los Muertos, or “The Day of the Dead,” happens to take place just days before the general election. In the spirit of this hallowed Mexican holiday, we hope you enjoy our new video. (Haga clic aquí para español.)

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, traditionally occurs on November 1 and 2–just days before the general election on Tuesday, November 8.

The traditional Mexican celebration is about making contact with the spirits of the dead, to let them know that they are not forgotten and that we still care about them here on Earth. So we thought, what better way to tell the story of plastic bag pollution than to connect with sea creatures that have died because of plastic pollution in our oceans?

In our new mini-film “Los Fantasmas Del Mar,” a medium has the uncanny ability to speak with marine mammals that have passed on from this world. Tapping into the great abyss, she communicates with the spirit of a gray whale that happens to know a surprising amount about California politics–and Proposition 67 in particular. Who knew?

Our creative partners–many of whom worked on our viral hit “The Majestic Plastic Bag,” filmed Sra. Sargassos in her native language, but they’ve added English subtitles to reach more voters.

Be sure to check out and contribute to our traveling Día de Los Muertos altar devoted to marine life:

Feliz Día de Los Muertos and remember to vote YES on Prop 67 and NO on Prop 65! To learn more, visit https://healthebay.org/yeson67

Muchissimas gracias to our pro-bono team: Lupe Gudino, Jose Flick, Arnie Presiado, Gary Le Vine, Kevin McCarthy, Regie Miller, Paul Flick and, finally, Alicia Wu as the mysterious Sra. Sargossas.

***

Día de los muertos, o Day of the Dead, tradicionalmente ocurre en Noviembre 1 y 2, días antes de la elección general del Martes, Noviembre 8.

La tradicional celebración mexicana se trata de conectarse con los espíritus de los muertos, para dejarles saber que no han sido olvidados y que todavía se les quiere en esta tierra.¿Así que pensamos, qué mejor manera de contar la historia de la contaminación de la bolsa de plástico que conectarnos con las criaturas marinas que han muerto debido a la contaminación de la bolsa de plástico en nuestros océanos?

En nuestra ultimo mini-corto “Los Fantasmas Del Mar”, Una medium tiene la gran habilidad de hablar con los mamíferos que se han marchado de este mundo. tocando el gran abismo, Ella se comunica con una ballena gris quien sorprendentemente sabe mucho sobre política en California y en particular sobre la proposición 67, Quien podría saberlo?

Nuestros creativos socios – muchos de los cuales trabajaron en nuestro exito viral “La majestuosa bolsa de plástico,” filmaron a la Sra. Sargassos en su idioma nativo, pero han agregado subtítulos en inglés para llegar a más votantes

Asegúrese de echar un vistazo y contribuir a nuestro altar de Día de Los Muertos dedicado a la vida marina en estas dos locaciones:

Feliz Día de Los Muertos y recuerden en votar SI en Prop 67 y NO en Prop 65!

Muchissimas gracias a nuestro equipo de pro bono: Lupe Gudino, Jose Flick, Arnie Presiado, Gary Le Vine, Kevin McCarthy, Regie Miller, Paul Flick y, por último, Alicia Wu como la misteriosa Sra. Sargossos.

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Are You a Member of Heal the Bay Yet?

07.13.2015 |

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August 26, 2015 — This year, Heal the Bay celebrates three decades of protecting Los Angeles’ greatest natural resource. Yeah, it’s a big deal. To help us get the word out, we collaborated with two creative ad agencies to create a summer campaign to honor our mission and rally our supporters. Here’s some details about the digital campaign, which you’ll see running over the next two months.

Why now?

30 years ago, Santa Monica Bay was riddled with pollution and dead zones. Since then, thanks to HtB’s tireless advocacy and passionate community engagement, it has been brought back to life. But there’s plenty of work still left to be done – be it battling offshore drilling, stemming the tide of plastic trash on our shores or fighting for a more sustainable source of local water. As a member-supported organization, we need the support of everyday folks to get the work done.

Hinging off our 30th anniversary, we’re asking people to protect what they love by donating $25 and becoming a member of Heal the Bay.

What is it?

A thought-provoking, edgy, artful array of short videos, cinemagraphs, GIFs and graphics that we hope will rekindle people’s connection to the sea and to each other.

Beginning in late-August and continuing through September, we’ll release a new “Critters” spot every Wednesday, in which sea animals crack wise about man’s impact on their home. Earlier this summer, you might remember our “Soul of the Ocean” videos, which married spoken-word poetry and highly saturated, hypnotic, slow-motion images of the Bay.

You’ll also see something new on Instagram and Twitter: Cinemagraphs. We’re in love with them, and you’ll see why.

What can I do?

In addition to becoming a 30th Anniversary Member (for just $25!), you can impress and inspire your friends by sharing the videos and cinemagraphs below on social media. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CINEMAGRAPHS!

Click an image below to open it up in a new tab. Then, right-click to save it as a .GIF on your computer.

 

 

 

VIDEOS!









 

 

We’re deeply indebted to the talented team at McGann | Zhang for putting together this incredible–and growing–suite of artwork. And a separate hat-tip to creative agency Lowe Campbell Ewald’s L.A. office, which last year provided us with an amazing amount of audience research, analysis and strategic thinking.

 

 

 

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Teens Team Up with Holocaust Survivors for PSA

01.11.2013 |

About UsHeal the Bay VideosMalibu / Pacific PalisadesMarina del Rey / Playa del ReyMore Ways to GivePalos Verdes PeninsulaSanta MonicaSouth BayVenice Beach

Through a powerful collaboration between Holocaust survivors and teen filmmakers, Heal the Bay received a video gift that will definitely keep on giving.

Students produced It’s Not Just One, a public service announcement that vividly depicts the impact of littering on the health of our communities and ocean.

The PSA was created in a “Righteous Conversations Project” workshop held over the summer at Harvard-Westlake school aimed at students in 7th-11th grades from all over L.A.

These teens worked with Holocaust survivors to pinpoint injustices they wanted to confront together. Through the workshop they learned to harness the power of media messages, the ways video can be used to raise awareness and effect change.

Participating survivor Idele Stapholtz’s message was simple. “I was a child survivor,” she recalled sharing with the students. “To be a survivor in this world means that you need to understand and respect something precious, help save it and keep it pure.” 

It’s Not Just One was inspired by Harvard-Westlake freshman Michael Kellman’s love for the ocean. “I really wanted to do something about pollution in the ocean because the ocean is a huge part of my life,” he said. “I row crew in Marina del Rey every day and that’s my favorite thing in the world.”

Once the student filmmakers (Sarah McAllister, Kelly Morrison, Kyra Perez and Jordan Seibel) completed the PSA, they decided to gift it to Heal the Bay, which pleased Idele, a longtime supporter of Heal the Bay’s work. With her husband Ben, Idele spent years volunteering at what is now Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

“I thought It’s Not Just One was incredible. The result is so powerful,” she said.

Righteous Conversations launched in 2011 and is a project of Remember Us.  Harvard-Westlake’s Visual Arts and Film Chair Cheri Gaulke led the workshops.

Learn more about participating in the Righteous Conversation workshops.

Watch Heal the Bay’s videos, from mockumentaries to hip hop music videos and silent films.

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Hope Soars Above the Parking Lot

12.21.2012 |

About UsHeal the Bay VideosSouth Bay

On a recent Thursday, our four-person crew met to lead a water chemistry field trip—aka “Creek 101”— at Compton Creek. However, just as students arrived a dramatic downpour cancelled the field trip and left us to explore and contemplate other ways we could enhance the experience of Creek 101 at Compton Creek. I had never been to the site before, so I was very excited to get my own personal tour and explore the area. 

Although the stretch of creek Eddie Murphy, Heal the Bay’s Secondary Education Coordinator uses as his outdoor classroom is fairly restrained due to many factors, there are nearby sites with great potential for habitat restoration that could be accessible and beneficial to the entire community (both people and wildlife).

Because of the natural sediment bottom of this particular Creek 101 site, many different types of plants inhabit the stream creating a lush and green island between the surrounding parking lots and developments. We had noticed during our walk that many birds were still present and valued the site as suitable habitat in a habitat limited region. The most compelling evidence, which proves the importance of this small non-concrete space was Katherine Pease, Heal the Bay’s Watershed Scientist identifying a White-Tailed Kite hunting directly above the creek (seen in the video below). 

White-Tailed Kites are small raptors that hunt by facing the wind and hovering elegantly in the air. Their beautiful white-feathered bodies hang like actual kites, while they scan the ground for rodents to prey on. Our sighting is especially crucial because Kite populations have been declining in past years mainly due to habitat loss and are rarely seen in developed areas. This is so hopeful to see that Compton Creek (and possibly also the adjacent abandoned partially undeveloped lot) provides a haven of ecological importance for both plants and animals.  

— Marissa Maggio, Stream Team Intern 

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Spreading Green Cheer Throughout Los Angeles

12.21.2012 |

About UsCalifornia Bag BanHeal the Bay Videos

Green Santa and his eco-elves made a stop in historic Los Angeles distributing more than 1,000 reusable bags at Olvera Street and $1000 in Vons/Pavilions gift cards to families, tourists and holiday shoppers as part of Heal the Bay’s 6th annual A Day Without a Bag.

Across Los Angeles County on December 20, Heal the Bay staff and volunteers gave away 15,000 bags to promote going reusable for the holidays and in preparation for the L.A. City bag ban ordinance that’s poised to move forward in spring 2013.

To date, Heal the Bay has given away 100,000 reusable bags as part of an ongoing outreach effort to get Angelenos to forgo their plastic bags in favor of reusable ones.

Kirsten James, Heal the Bay’s Water Quality Director, noted that Olvera Street, as the birthplace of Los Angeles, was the perfect spot to talk about making history with a bag ban. “L.A. is poised to be the largest city in the U.S. to ban plastic bags. When that happens, our city will be a model for the rest of the nation,” she told the dozens of people who had lined up to recieve reusable bags.

Every year California municipalities spend nearly $25 million just to collect and properly dispose of plastic bag waste. Only 5% of plastic grocery bags are recycled annually in L.A. Plastic bags clog our waterways and are harmful to human health and marine life.

A Day Without A Bag 2012 Golden Ticket Winner at Olvera StreetAt Olvera Street, each reusable bag recipient had a chance of finding a “golden ticket” inside good for a $25 Vons/Pavilions gift card. Vons/Pavilions also sponsored giftcard giveways at its Hollywood stores.

“Vons is happy to partner with Heal the Bay on A Day Without a Bag,” said Jenna Watkinson, Manager, Public Affairs and Government Relations at Von’s. “We feel that part of being the neighborhood grocery store is being a good neighbor. Our commitment to the environment plays a huge part in being that good neighbor.”

Albertsons and Ralphs markets also partnered with us to promote A Day Without a Bag, as did the City and County of Los Angeles and EarthWise Bag Company Inc. Commissioner Capri Maddox, vice president of the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works, and Jim Cragg from Green Vets LA (which provides local military veterans with jobs making reusable bags), joined Heal the Bay at Olvera Street to share the good news about reusable bags reducing litter and creating green jobs in Los Angeles.

This year Heal the Bay also focused on youth to advocate for change in their own communities, training them on how to build support for the ban all over the city. On December 1 we organized the Day Without a Bag Youth Summit, bringing together 35 students and teachers from eight different schools, including Apex Academy.

A group of students from Apex helped distribute Vons/Pavilions gift cards in Hollywood and garnered support for reusables at Amoeba Music and the East Hollywood Farmers market.

We also launched our Rockin’ Reusables contest this year, encouraging people to share images of everday use of reusable items. Melissa from Huntington Beach won our grand prize for sharing her “Off to the grocery store!” photo on Instagram. Congratulations, Melissa!

Visit our Action Alert page to stay up-to-date on our latest advocacy campaigns, or sign up for our newsletters, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

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10 Ways to Heal the Bay: Don't Be a Drip

03.21.2012 |

Heal the Bay Videos

Overwatering is wasteful and moves trash and toxins to the ocean. Turn off the faucet when you don’t need it. Fix leaky pipes and install low-flow shower heads and toilets. By conserving water, you can put less stress on sewage treatment plants and allow them to do a better job.

Help heal the Bay, don’t be a drip!

Ten Ways to Heal: Don't Be a Drip - Video

We will be uploading a short video about each of the 10 Ways you can heal the Bay over the coming months, so keep an eye on our YouTube Channel.

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