Creating a Great Entry

REUSE FUN Video
30-second to 1-minute video on A Bag’s Life

• Be positive, upbeat and fun
• Think comedy, not tragedy
• Highlight ways to reuse a bag or bags
• Show us creativity
• Raise awareness about useful ways to reuse a bag

RECYCLING EDUCATIONAL Video
30-second to 1-minute video on A Bag’s Life

• What can bags become when diverted from the waste stream?
• Think comedy, not tragedy
• Be positive, upbeat and fun
• Show us creativity
• Raise awareness about useful ways to recycle plastic bags...where to recycle plastic bags...how plastic bags are used in their next life

Videos can focus on a FUN reuse or EDUCATIONAL recycling activity or topic. For example:

• Submit a video using your own music. Sing your own oridinal song or play your own tune on an instrument. And chronicle a day in the life of a bag that's going to be reused or recycled
• Send us a video that takes a bag from the checkout, back to the store and finally as outdoor decking
• Highlight a recycling project that has made your community a better place to live
• Show us how a community can pitch in to set up store recycling
• Give us your ideas for as many creative uses for bags as you can think of

Keep in Mind

READ THE OFFICIAL RULES FOR COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS.

Here are a few highlights from the rules and tips:

1. The video has to be entirely your original work — that includes photos, graphics and music. If you need background music, this can be as easy as humming or singing an original ditty.

2. Your plastic bag examples shouldn't have a visible logo or color combinations that are recognizable from an individual store. Plain white, gray and brown bags are available at many stores.

3. Your video should promote reuse and/or recycling of free plastic bags. Positive, fun and upbeat videos get the message across better than somber ones.

4. Your video may include examples of what plastic bags can be recycled into.

Click here for all the contest rules

Factoids About Me —

I’m definitely convenient, strong and can easily be reused and recycled.  But did you know that I’m also an environmentally responsible choice? I use less energy to produce, create less greenhouse gas emissions, require less water and create less waste compared to paper alternatives.

Want to Know More?

• More of my friends are getting recycled than ever

In 2008, more than 832 million pounds of “post-consumer film” (that’s what they call me and other plastic product wraps) were recovered – up 28 percent from 2005. And, according to the EPA, the national recycling rate for plastic bags and wraps doubled during that period to reach 13 percent. Each year the rate has steadily increased as more programs to recycle me have taken hold. I can be recycled into a wide range of second-generation products, including durable building and construction products, low-maintenance fencing and decks and new bags.

• I’m Reusable

More than 90 percent of today's consumers have found ways to reuse plastic bags. I can be used as liners for household wastebaskets, totes and laundry or garment bags, among other uses. (I’m sure you can think of more.)

• I’m NOT Made from Oil!

Yup, that’s right — most bags made here in the U.S. are made from domestic natural gas.   http://www.americanrecycler.com/0610/237plastic.shtml

• I’m Lightweight and Compact

 I don’t weigh much at all and I definitely save space and fuel when transported from one place to the next. I’m lighter than many alternatives and help to save energy and reduce emissions.

• When I’m new, I’m clean!

Think about all the messy groceries that can leak in a bag. Yuck! Using a new plastic bag eliminates the worry of whether the bag is clean enough to tote food.