Protecting our coastlines - the Marine Life Protection Act and what you can do

At GoGreenMug.com, we're committed to minimizing negative effects on the environment, by promoting the reduction of waste we, as a society, generate.

We wanted to use this week's blog to remind you all of some simple actions you can take to reduce your waste. Some of these things will not only be helpful to the environment, but may also save you some money:

• Reduce paper waste by paying your bills online and signing up for e-statements. You'll be less likely to make a late payment, save yourself and the billing company a few envelopes, and save yourself some postage (which is scheduled to increase May 11, 2009).
  
• Bring reusable containers to restaurants to carry your leftovers home. Your containers are most likely much sturdier than what the restaurants give you; plus, theirs are almost always made of styrofoam.


• Bring your own bags to the supermarkets. We are seeing lots of people starting to adopt this action, and the markets are definitely taking notice. Some places such as Target reduce your bill by five cents for every bag you save them; other markets like Trader Joe's enter you into a weekly raffle. So gather up some old bags (or buy some), and throw a few into your car so you'll always have them on hand when you're out shopping.


• Remember - your GoGreenMug can be used for any kind of beverage, including water or soda. No need to waste single-use cups at the office for water/coffee, and some restaurants let you fill up your mug at their soda fountain instead of using their throwaway cups.
  

In addition to minimizing negative effects on the environment, there are some simple steps you can take to promote positive change. The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) of California was passed in 1999 (yes, this was a while ago, but it is scheduled to be fully implemented by late 2010-2011). This law is intended to provide various levels of protection to specific areas along the coastal waters, by controlling what types of activities are allowed. By strategically placing these safe-havens (Marine Protected Areas - MPA's), marine life can prosper and may flow from one MPA to another. For more information on the MLPA, please visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/

If you feel any particular areas along the California coast would benefit by being designated an MPA, please complete a survey the Surfrider Foundation has published at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jweijd4I8d5vtscSSwjSHw_3d_3d

Last week, we visited the Portfolio Coffeehouse in Long Beach, CA. It's a fairly large shop, with lots of seating areas, including comfy couches, and plenty of places to plug a laptop into. This shop offers ten cents off for customers who bring in their own mugs (the discount only applies to coffee orders though). The baristas said they make an effort to recycle as much as they can, are conscious of the types of material used in their disposable utensils, and offer ceramic mugs to customers intending to enjoy their beverage in the coffeehouse.

Thank you for your efforts to reduce the waste, and have a great week!