I have a ton of reusable bags, it seems. They're in my car, my kitchen, even a small one is in my purse. But virtually all of them are made of what I'll call fresh materials -- stuff produced specifically to make the bag. (The colorful exception is a TerraCycle bag made from those foil juice pouches.)
But the Center City District has come up with a whole new bag. They've started making the sacks out of old banners that used to hang from the light poles, advertising various events. The banners, it turns out, are made from durable polypoplin fabric, and they used to just pile up in storage once they were taken down.
Now, the banners, which are dirty when they're taken down, are sent for laundering to Philacor, a vocational training program of the prison system. The banners go into industrial-size machines and then -- I just love this part -- they're hung out to dry instead of being put into dryers.
Next, the banners go to Baker Industries, a nonprofit work rehab program that employs people who need help -- people with disabilities, parolees, people who are in alcohol or drug recovery, the homeless. Baker can get up to four bags from each banner.
The first banner bags out are from the Red Bull Soap Box Race 2008, the Philadelphia Orchestra's 2003 Christoph Eschenbach Welcome, Cirque du Soleil's Kooza, the Ben Franklin Tercentenary and CCD's welcome banner.
All bags are a limited edition, of course. The district says prices may vary, depending on the retailer, but expect to pay $16.99 or more. (Fancier than the bags sold at grocers, they have two interior pockets and are large -- 17 by 14.5 by 4.5 inches.) For now, they're only available at a few locations, including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts gift shop at 128 N. Broad and at Open House Living at 107 S. 13th Street. The district says they'll also be at the Pennsylvania General Store in the Reading Terminal Market.
But just wait til these things catch on!
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.
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