Edina always has been all about the red, white, blue and green. Deeply concerned with environmental values, local grass roots organization Edina Go Green (EGG) has been actively involved in the local sustainability movement since they became a part of the Edina Community Foundation last year.
The group’s current Go Green initiative involves making the shopping experience more eco-friendly by promoting commercial recycling. According to Meg Davidson, a member of the EGG team, “We are working to educate consumers about the facts concerning single-use bags, to encourage everyone to bring bags when they go shopping.” When 380 billion plastic bags are thrown away annually in the United States, an initiative like this can have a dramatic impact. According to Meg, the EPA estimates that “each bag takes approximately 1,000 years to break down in a landfill, and only 1–3 percent are recycled.”
Going green doesn’t have to be a hassle. Sarah Zarrin of the EGG suggests purchasing a reusable bag and keeping it handy in your car or purse for impromptu grocery or shopping trips. “It doesn’t take much,” coaxes Zarrin.
Saluting their efforts in 2010, the EGG was awarded by the city of Edina for its work to encourage recycling among businesses and for their promotion of multi-purpose reusable bags.
