Heal the Bay: 'Day Without a Bag' to Kick Off

If environmental group Heal the Bay had its way, no single-use, plastic shopping bags would be used in Southern California. Ever.

But for now, the organization is settling on making this a reality Thursday, which marks its "A Day Without a Bag" event.

According to the group's website: "Held the third Thursday in December, Heal the Bay’s fifth annual A Day Without a Bag will be December 15, 2011, when Southland shoppers will receive an early holiday present, courtesy of a giveaway of nearly 20,000 reusable bags at more than 60 Giveaway Locations throughout Los Angeles County."

Heal the Bay has been a well-known opponent of platic bag usage in the area, claiming the material ends up in landfills, river beds and beaches, harming the environment.