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Just Saying No to Plastic

Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 | Updated 5:18 PM PST

A number of stores sponsored the giveaway.

Can you live for a day without a bag? Officials in Encinitas want to know. They handed out 5,000 reusable bags Thursday to shoppers to help encourage them to stop using plastic.

The event called "A Day without a Bag" was the idea of the "Surfrider Foundation," a non profit group working to keep beaches clean.

Mayor Maggie Houlihan helped kick off the campaign outside the Civic Center in Encinitas.

"The merchants are finding this is a good thing they are encouraging folks to bring in their own bags it will save storage space and money," said Mayor Houlihan.

Organizers say plastic bags cost Encinitas taxpayers thousands in cleanup costs and create an unsightly blight on their community.