This video is found at YouTube: Santa Monica Plastic Bag Monster.

This is a tongue-in-cheek video taped at a community meeting discussing the issue of plastic bags. While entertaining, it also does an excellent job of summarizing the problems with plastic bags! As the 'bag man' points out, the average person uses 600 plastic bags every year. Imagine the reduction possible if each of us used reusable bags instead. Ten reusable bags, which can last longer than a year, versus 600 plastic bags per year. The bag monster also points out that these bags can last for 1,000 years and that they can't decompose, they just break down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic. He states the fact that more than one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed each year by plastic.  He concludes by stating that plastic bags can be found everywhere. Next time you go for a walk or a drive notice how much garbage you see and how much of that is plastic bags and other plastic trash.

Reduce our use of single use plastic containers. For example:

Use reusable bags when we shop instead of getting plastic bags, or paper bags, every time.

Use a reusable water bottle instead of disposable plastic bottles.

Use reusable containers for sandwiches and snacks instead of plastic sandwich bags. 

                                                                    GreenSak Reusable Bags

Recycle single use plastic containers when use them.

Reuse when possible.

Make sure to throw away plastic products that cannot be recycled.

When walking or hiking consider taking a washable, reusable bag to pick up trash you find along your route.

Organize or participate in a local clean up project. You may be surprised at how much plastic and other trash is drifting around in the environment.

When possible consider buying products that have less packaging.

Recycle used games, toys, clothes and other items that are in good condition by giving them away or selling them to a second hand store.

Make sure to throw away balloons after a party. Do not release them into the air. The balloons could land where they might harm, or even kill, animals who mistake them for food.

        The Sad Life of a Plastic Bag video

This video can be found at YouTube: The sad life of a plastic bag.