Paper or Paper $

Swimming pools, movie stars but no more plastic bags. In continuing with the trend of charging people for non eco friendly behavior California is moving forward with it's crusade to ban all plastic bags. Legislation passed Wednesday now prohibits stores from offering plastic bags to customers. In hopes that people will start to bring their own reusable bags the bill also institutes charges for those opting for the paper bags. The bag ban has been catching on all over the world - starting in Ireland and South Africa and finally spreading to the US in 2007 (Yay San Francisco!)

For those last minute trips to the grocery store try the compact reusable FEED 100 by FEED Projects totes which proceeds go towards feeding hungry children all over the world. The bag zips up for easy storage and toting around in case of a quick stop at Whole Foods (or wherever)  :)

Hello and Welcome to the Garbage Hotel?

Just when you think you've seen everything up pops a hotel made of trash? In Rome Corona (yes the beer company) has sponsored the building of the world's first hotel made from scattered trash. The project, called Save the Beach, was started to save Europe's beaches from becoming wastelands due to the enormous amounts of garbage filling the sands. Supported by such famous names as Jade Jagger and Helena Christensen (who will be staying at the hotel and blogging her experience) Save the Beach aims to clean up and save one beach every year. (The beach is chosen by user submissions and votes on the site.

I actually think this is a not a bad way to go getting help to clean up the beaches around the world (Hint  - EXPAND THE PROJECT SCOPE!). But I don't know yet about making my living accommodations out of it. Living in NYC is hard enough............