Reusable Bag Art Exposition a Success; Residents Learn About Reusable Bags

If you happened by the Chappaqua Train Station in the past week, you may have noticed a paper and plastic bag display hanging from the trees surrounding the War Memorial. You may have wondered, is this art? Is this trying to send a message?

            The answer is a little bit of both. Last Saturday, students from Horace Greeley’s Environmental Club, S.T.O.P. (Students and Teachers for Our Planet), held New Castle’s first ever Reusable Bag Art Exposition. In addition to the paper and plastic bag display, kids decorated their own reusable bags and participated in an educational scavenger hunt through the Chappaqua Farmers’ Market.

            The Expo gave kids and adults alike an opportunity to learn and see firsthand the drastic impact plastic and paper bags have on the community. For example, did you know that US goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually? And while paper bags may seem more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, the extensive energy required to produce them makes them overwhelmingly wasteful.

            The good news is that reusable bags are a viable alternative to single-use bags. Stores have the opportunity to make extra revenue by selling reusable bags to customers. Customers can also receive special discounts for using their own bags. According to New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, “Reusable bags are a simple and efficient solution to contribute to our planet and community.”

            For anyone interested in learning more, contact New Castle’s Sustainability Advisory Board at newcastlesab@gmail.com