• Small Girls Making A Big Difference

    Every Bag Counts!

  • Girl Scout troop pictured with Congressman Josh Gottheimer

     

    Laws Passed

    Starting November 2021, single-use plastic bags are banned in New Jersey

    In 2017 the Township of Teaneck passed Ordinance #18-2017, the second municipal ordinance to limit plastic bags in NJ. It allows for a five-cent fee, effective July 2018.

     

    In 2020 Governor Phil Murphy signed S864, which is the strongest bag ban in the nation. It bans single-use plastic and paper bags, effective November 2021.

  • Our Guide

    Take action within you own community

    How to Successfully

    Lobby Elected Officials

    Created by Eliza Silletto

    A step by step of our actions plus insightful advice from a range of professionals about what works and how you can be successful too.

  • How We Started

    Dedicated to this cause since 2014.

    Passion

    As a troop, we knew two things. We wanted to pursue a topic that would not only help animals, but the environment and ourselves. So as a project, our troop decided we wanted to inform people that plastic bags have to go. After all, there's an easy alternative, reusable tote bags. We believe we can save hundreds of animals, just by getting one more person, to use one more tote bag.

    Information

    For three years we have been researching plastic bags. We've read every article, whether it's criticizing or complimenting a plastic bag. But once we found that 100,000 animals die every year from plastic bags alone, we knew we had to take action. That means about 274 animals die every day because of plastic bags. And they will be around forever because plastic bags never decompose, they just keep breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, and just continue to pollute our Earth, and kill our animals. We need this- to stop.

  • Our Second Favorite Video

    After Our Own of Course!

    The Majestic Plastic Bag

     

    This is the video that got us started. It showed us how what we use every day, is harmful in every way.

  • Who We Are

    Teaneck Girl Scout Troop 19 is on a mission to reduce the use of plastic bags in Teaneck!

    Our Viral Video

    The Start of Our Campaign in 4 Minutes!

    Since March 2014, our troop has been doing many things to get the word out: plastic bags are BAD!

    • March 2014: Gave out 125+ reusable bags to shoppers outside of a grocery store (Stop & Shop) and informed them about the harm of plastic bags
    • May 2014: Showed the video above, speaking to other Girl Scouts and Senator Loretta Weinberg about the harm of plastic bags
    • October 2014: Cleaned up part of the Overpeck river for 5 hours and saw how many plastic bags were in the river
    • November 9 2014: Had a Q&A Session at the Teaneck International Film Festival after showing the video, teaching more people what a plastic bag can do
    • March 4, 2015: Participated in the Fair Lawn Green Fair
    • March 21, 2015: Showed the video above at the Westwood Library Green Screen & did a Q&A session
    • April 20, 2015: Went to Teaneck town council and proposed a ban/ tax on plastic bags with the video
    • September 21, 2015: Went on an eco-cruise down the Hackensack River & saw first hand, how plastic bags affected the river
    • April 20, 2016: Held a Bring Your Own Bag Summit for Teaneck residents to learn more about plastic bags
    • May 14, 2016: Preformed a skit on what a plastic bag can do at an Earth Fest 
    • May 30, 2016: Walked around Teaneck's Ceder Lane Memorial Day Festival as the plastic bag monster & raised awareness for our cause
    • April & May 2017: Attended Teaneck Town Council meetings to remind councilmen and women about the plastic bag problem
    • May 20, 2017: Our plastic bag monster raises awareness at the Hackensack Riverkeeper Ecofest at Overpeck Park
    • May 23, 2017: Teaneck Council passed an ordinance to place a ban or fee on plastic bags in Teaneck
    • July 6, 2017: Teaneck passed a 5 cent fee on plastic bags, effective in one year
    • August 1, 2017: Handed out 300 reusable bags at Teaneck's National Night Out while talking to residents about what we've done
    • October 25, 2017: Received an award from the New Jersey Environmental Lobby and participated in a Q&A
    • November 13, 2017: Met with New Jersey Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle and discussed having legislation on plastic bags at a statewide level
    • November 21, 2017: Received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Central Bergen Circle of GreenFaith
    • June 2, 2018: Honored with the Hometown Heroes award from U.S. congressman Josh Gottheimer
    • August 23, 2018: Attended New Jersey joint legislature assembly on plastic
    • September 25, 2019: Spoke to Governor Phil Murphy about Bill S-2776 to ban single-use plastic bags
    • November 13, 2019: Met with NJ State Senator Paul Sarlo to advocate for State Bill S-2776
    • December 16, 2019: Attended NJ Lobby Day at the Statehouse in Trenton to advocate for Bill S-2776  

  • What We've Done

    In July 2017, Teaneck Township passed an ordinance for a 5-cent fee on plastic bags!

    broken image

    Our Video

    Bringing The Message Everywhere, in One Song!

    Starting at the Teaneck Film Festival, we showed our anti-plastic bag video, encouraging people to reduce their use of plastic bags. Soon after, we began showing it to middle schools all over Teaneck, town council, in other towns, and to our friends and family. A couple months after first showing the film, we decided to start a petition. We have 400+ signatures from Teaneck residents and people who work in Teaneck (including Senator Weinberg's), 35+ signatures from Teaneck merchants, and we plan to continue. Our ultimate goal is a ban or tax on plastic bags in Teaneck.

    broken image

    Our Goal

    A Ban Or Fee on Single-Use Plastic Bags

    When we first started our campaign, we wanted action-real action. Not every adult looking at us like we're crazy, while saying they'll use a tote bag next time. Some may keep this promise, but many won't. So we want to make a big change, and we found the best way to reduce the use of plastic bags would be banning or taxing them in Teaneck. We researched the topic, collected signatures on a petition, and presented town council with our plan. Now, we must inform everyone that plastic is horrible to the environment. Plastic Bags Have To Go!

  • Who's Talking About Us

    Check us out in the newspapers!

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    Troop 19 Speaking to Town Council

    In April 2015, Troop 19 went to Teaneck Town Council to propose a ban or tax. Each girl spoke about the effects of plastic bags, and how a ban or tax, could be beneficial to the environment. Since then, the Teaneck Environmental Commission had recommended a ban on plastic bags to the council.

    http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/troop-hopes-to-reduce-use-of-plastic-bags-1.1338999

    Also, watch our presentation to the council on http://teanecktownnj.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=1124&MinutesItemID=3879&Format=Minutes (Starts at 4:00)

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    Our Start

    After seeing many videos and presentations on the harm of plastic bags, Troop 19 had a mission. To reduce the use of plastic bags. We researched the topic, made signs and posters, and got ready to stand outside our local grocery store, Stop & Shop, and reduce the number of plastic bags that are used. After handing out over 125 reusable bags to shoppers outside of Stop & Shop, plus green ribbons to remind them to grab reusable bags before leaving their house. Above, a couple girls of the troop stand with supporter Bruce Prince, who is the owner of the Teaneck General Store.

    See an article on: http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/ban-onplasticbagssought-1.1312737

    Also: http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/2014082812524569?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&1409230931

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    Take Our Survey

    We Need To Know- How Do You Use Your Plastic Bags?

  • Other Resources

    We're Not the Only Ones Fighting For ThisThere are LOTS of Articles About How Plastic Hurts Us, Animals, & the EnvironmentCheck Them Out!

    NJ Bans Single-Use Paper and Plastic
    November 4, 2020 · Legislation
    Teaneck Passes Plastic Bag Fee
    July 21, 2017 · Legislation
    NYC Bag Fee
    May 5, 2016 · Legislation

  • Spread the Word!

    We may be girls, but we'll get our message to the world!

    Find us on:

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