Program is in the bag

IN THE BAG- La Mariposa Elementary School fifth-grader Matthew Ruhland, 10, accepts 35 linen shopping bags from Albertson's store manager Sam Schindel at the Camarillo supermarket last month. Students have been working since last October to collect and recycle plastic shopping bags as part of a program to raise money for the school and to help make the students more environmentally aware.

Since Oct. 15 last year, La Mariposa Elementary School has been participating in its first Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge. The purpose of the program is to recycle some of the billions of plastic bags that are used annually in California and also teach the schoolchildren that they can each play a part in helping the environment.

The program's sponsor donates $5 for each 60-gallon bag of plastic bags the school collects. The school has collected 76 bags so far.

"It's nice to bring in a little money for the school, but even more important is the fact that we are taking all these plastic bags out of our local landfills," said program chair Lori McVicker.

Part of the program's goal is to encourage students to use more eco-friendly shopping bags.

To do so, La Mariposa enlisted the help of the Camarillo Albertson's supermarket, which donated 35 linen shopping bags to be given to each classroom at the elemantary school.

"We've substantially cut down on our own waste, and are happy to support La Mariposa to cut down the amount of trash, particularly non-biodegradable plastic, that goes into our landfills," said Albertson's store manager Sam Schindel.

The Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge will end March 20.