Dozens of plastic bottle caps collected over the months to be recycled. Photo by Nina Wu.

It's amazing how many plastic caps you can collect in a month — they're on half-gallon milk cartons, Trop50 juices, water bottles, pretty much any beverage that comes in a plastic bottle, shampoo and conditioner bottles, vitamins, peanut butter jars and Happy Baby food pouches. The list goes on.

Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.) is making an effort to recycle the plastic caps and lids. Mark your calendars if you, too, have been collecting plastic lids and caps. The non-profit and student volunteers will be collecting plastic caps and lids for recycling on Saturday, May 5 and Saturday, May 12.

>> 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5. Ahuimanu Elementary School, 47-470 Hui Aeko Pl. in Kaneohe.

>> 9 a.m. to 11;30 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. Kaimuki Middle School, 631 18th Ave.

For updates on plastic caps and lids recycling collection dates and times, visit www.b-e-a-c-h.org.

This effort to reduce plastic caps in the environment and help save sea birds is an initiative of the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii and supported by the following partners: Matson, 5 Star Transportation, Young Brothers and ETA Logistics.

Free Educational Presentation

Also, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 29 and June 28, listen to an educational and inspirational presentation by B.E.A.C.H. co-founder Suzanne Frazer on the issue of plastic in our environment and how it is both harmful to our health as well as marine life.

Learn about chemicals in plastic, the impacts of marine debris on marine life and what simple steps you can take to protect your health as well as that of the environment.

The presentations will take place at the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation Community Meeting Room, 131 Hekili St. Suite 111 in Kailua. Light refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market Kailua. Please RSVP by phone to 393-2168.

Plastic carryout bags are expected to be banned in Honolulu starting in 2015, if the mayor signs it into law. Star-Advertiser photo.

Honolulu City Council passed a bill on Wednesday banning nonbiodegradable plastic bags at checkout starting July 1, 2015.

Well, it's about time, given that the neighbor isles (Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island) have already passed plastic bag bans. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle still has to sign the bill.

So what if there's a plastic bag ban in Honolulu?

The first reaction you get from most folks opposed to the ban is — what am I going to line my wastebaskets with from now on, and from dog owners,  how am I going to pick up my dog's poop? I've had this conversation at the dog park, and there are some owners who are really resolute about their right to a plastic bag just for this very reason.

Finding alternatives to line your wastebasket with is tricky, I'll admit. I do reuse stray plastic bags (that somehow get sneaked into the house) to line the wastebasket.

But for the last two to three years, I've  been bringing my own bags to the grocery store and more and more, to other retail stores as well — or sometimes, simply saying, "No Thanks." I never really understood why you would need a small, plastic bag if you were simply buying a candy bar or bag of potato chips — couldn't you just take the receipt and put it straight into your purse or backpack?

As the owner of a Springer spaniel named Kona — and as the official dog walker in the family — yes, I do have the unglamorous task of picking up her poop. I haven't really found it difficult since switching to reusable bags.

The bag ban would not affect the bags used to package loose fruit, vegetables and nuts, nor does it affect newspaper bags.

We have a newspaper delivered to the door every morning, sometimes in just one bag and sometimes two. These bags actually are the perfect size for picking up dog poop – I find grocery bags to be more unwieldy, with a flyaway effect.

Bread bags also work — every time we go through a loaf of bread, I save the bag and reuse it.  It still probably isn't the greenest choice — maybe someone some day will invent a new way to pick up dog poop.

There's such a plethora of plastic bags in our lives that honestly, it's not a big deal to give up plastic checkout bags. It's nice to get rid of the plastic  bag monster under the sink.

If it came down to it, I suppose using biobags would be a greener option — they do cost money, but they work fine.

Still, the detrimental effects of plastic in the ocean is far greater than the inconvenience. I'm not just talking about choking up turtles — I'm talking about the health of the ocean's ecosystem and in turn, the health of humans who are interconnected with that ecosystem.

Now, we could have considered a fee for plastic and paper checkout bags, which was effective in Washington DC. The bill in the state legislature seeking to place a 10-cent fee on plastic and paper checkout bags stalled this session, though it had the backing of both retailers and environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club Hawaii.

But really, we can live without plastic (and paper) checkout bags. Just bring your own bag.

Earth Day on Sunday marked the two-year anniversary of the BP oil spill. Two years ago, the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig sank into the Gulf of Mexico, creating the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Two years later, the people and environment are still suffering from the after-effects of the spill. Is the seafood indeed safe to eat? The FDA says so, but the idea of fish with open sores and parasitic infections (which may or may not be from the effects of petroleum, though inconclusive) doesn't sound appetizing.

Now filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell of Green Planet Productions (of "FUEL") expose the root causes of the spill, uncovering "a vast network of corruption" in their documentary film "The Big Fix." Peter Fonda is an executive producer of the official selection for the Festival de Cannes.

Here's a review from the L.A. Times, which says that "The Big Fix" presents a compelling array of damning testimony from EPA officials, journalists, scientists and politicians as well as emotional scenes of distraught residents, a number, like Rebecca Tickell, experiencing troubling physical symptoms in the wake of the disaster." BP chose not to participate in the documentary.

Mint Evemts Hawaii is screening "The Big Fix" at Fresh Cafe, 831 Queen St., on Wednesday, April 25. Doors open at 6 p.m. with free pupus, no-host cocktails and raffle prizes. The  film starts at 7 p.m. and is followed by a discussion at 8:30 p.m.

Cost is $8 if you purchase tickets online at www.ticketleap.com and $10 at the door.

The film will also be shown 7 p.m. on April 25 at The Palace Theater, 38 Haili St. in Hilo  (hosted by Surfrider Foundation, Hilo chapter).

Josh and Rebecca Tickell of Green Planet Productions produced "The Big Fix," which digs deep into the root causes of the BP oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Courtesy image.

Here's the typical weekday takeout lunch waste in a trash can at Restaurant Row, which includes single-use Styrofoam cups and clamshells and plastic bags (and plastic utensils). Lunch probably took about 30 minutes, but these will take 100s of years to break down. Surely we can reduce this with a few simple lifestyle changes. Photo by Nina Wu.

Here are 7 more personal lifestyle changes you can take to make Earth Day every day.

1. >> Plant native. Go for native plants in your front or backyard. Contrary to what most people may think, native plants are not tropical plants like birds of paradise, ginger or heliconia. There are plenty of native plants to choose from, whether pohuehue or pohinahina for ground cover, the fragrant na‘u (gardenia) or several kinds of kokio (native hibiscus) to add color to your landscape. Naupaka also makes a nice hedge. Hui Ku Maoli Ola sells native plants at various events and Home Depot, which is a good place to get started. Visit their online catalog for a list.

2. >> BYOU. Bring your own utensils. This is one of my own personal goals because I usually buy lunch on work weekdays and oftentimes end up with the single-use plastic forks, knives and spoons that they give you for takeout. You can either bring your own silverware from home and wash it, or buy a cool, portable bamboo set to reuse.

3. >> Compost. Whether it's a worm compost, pile compost or bokashi bucket, you would be doing the earth a favor by letting food waste break back down into what nature intended — soil. You'll also be doing your garden a favor. To learn more about the bokashi bucket, visit eachoneteachonefarms.com/bokashi.

4. >> Avoid Styrofoam. Sunetric recently launched a "no Styrofoam" campaign and is acknowledging restaurants like Duke's that do the same. Styrofoam, or Polystyrene foam, takes hundreds of years to break down, cannot be recycled and is toxic to marine life. Unfortunately, you will still see a lot of Styrofoam when you buy coffee or takeout lunch. Try to request an alternative if possible or patronize places that opt not to use Styrofoam.

5. >> Recycle bottle caps. While we can throw plastic water bottles and plastic soft drink bottles into the blue bin for recycling, or redeem them for 5-cents each, there's no money for plastic caps. Yet they, too, can be recycled. Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.) is collecting plastic caps and lids from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, at Ahuimanu Elementary School, 47-470 Hui Aeko Place in Kaneohe and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kaimuki Middle School, 631 18th Ave. on Saturday, May 12. Visit the non-profit's website to learn more about which caps and lids can be recycled.

6.>> Clean green. Choose biodegradable, plant-based cleansers and detergents to wash your dishes, toilet and bathtub with. Many of these alternatives (which don't include harsh chemicals like chlorine or ammonia) are now available — brands include Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, Ecover and Method. My favorite dishwashing liquid is Eco's Ultra Dishmate, pear, though I also use Ecover sometimes. This link from livstrong.com lists the top 10 natural cleaning brands. Look for the Green Seal. You can also make your own cleansers at home using baking soda, vinegar and water.

7.>> Buy recycled products. As a consumer, choose recycled products, whether it be post-consumer recycled paper towels (available at Costco, by the way) or office paper. You can also buy gently used items instead of brand-new products at your local garage sale, places like Reuse Hawaii (lumber, hardware and construction materials) and on craigslist.org.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is organizing a large-scale cleanup of the coastline, from Makapu‘u to Kaupo Bay on Earth Day (Sunday, April 22). Volunteers are then invited to a special event including educational booths, games and music at Sea Life Park for a $5 entrance fee. Courtesy Photo.

Earth Day is Sunday, April 22.

What are you doing for Earth Day? Well, it turns out there are a couple of Earth Day events, starting today.

>> UH Manoa Earth Day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Thursday, April 19), the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Ecology Club is hosting workshops, music and community groups along the  Legacy Pathway outside the campus's Environmental Center. From 11:30 to noon there will be a water catchment workshop, followed by composting from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and organic gardening from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Chat with non-profit groups and community groups like the Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable UH, Hui o Ko‘olaupoko and Each One Teach One Farms. Solar companies, including Hawaiian Island Solar and Haleakala Solar, will also be on hand.

>> Party for the Planet: Honolulu Zoo celebrates Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday April 22. On Saturday, there will be hands on recycling in the zoo's volunteer garden, zoo animal talks and animal biofacts. On Sunday, there will be demonstration stations on worm composting, educational games and crafts from the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative, OISC and the Honolulu Zoo Society. Juice and ice cream for kids will also be available, courtesy of Meadow Gold Ice Cream. Visit www.honoluluzoo.org or call 926-3191 for more information.

>> Earth Day e-Waste: Pacific Corporate Solutions is collecting e-waste from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. Drop off your computers, monitors, laptops, printers, fax machines, servers and telecom equipment at Kahala Mall (parking lot along Kilauea Ave.), Kapolei Shopping Center (Safeway parking lot) and Central Middle School (1302 Queen Emma St.). On Saturday, April 28, e-waste will be collected from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaiser High School. All brands are accepted, but no TVs, microwaves or alkaline batteries, please. Visit ewastehawaii.com for more info.

>> Earth Day Beach Cleanup: Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii calls on volunteers of all ages to help with a large-scale cleanup of the coastal area from Makapu‘u to Kaupo Bay on Sunday, April 22 (Earth Day). A large amount of marine debris washed up on the shoreline due to recent strong tradewinds. Volunteers check in at Makapu‘u at 9:30 a.m. where they will be organized into teams and assigned specific zones to clean. The debris will be categorized and quantified and reported to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Gloves, trash bags, sunscreen and water will be provided.

From noon to 5 p.m., volunteers are invited to visit Sea Life Park for a $5 entrance fee. The general public can also get a discounted entrance fee of $15 for adults and $10 for juniors (ages 3 to 12) with an empty Cocoa Cola product to be recycled.

There will be live music, games, face painting, educational displays, a raffle for prizes and guest speakers including Carey Morishige, Pacific Islands regional coordinator of the NOAA Marine Debris program. Enjoy  music by the Honoka‘a Jazz Band at noon, as well as Mike Love and Paula Fuga.

>> Juice Mob: From 7 a.m. till noon on Sunday (Earth Day, April 22) Lanikai Juice at Kahala (4346 Waialae Ave.) is hosting a "Juice Mob." Proceeds will help students at Kahala Elementary School build a garden growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

>> Picnic for the Planet: The Nature Conservancy is attempting to set a Guinness world record for organizing the world's largest and most delicious Earth Day celebration by asking people to attend, host or donate to a picnic. Anyone can participate. Visit www.nature.org/earthday/index.htm for more info. In Honolulu, The Nature Conservancy is organizing a picnic lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday (April 22) at He‘eia Pier Deli (46-499 Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe). Meet at the banner.

>> "The Big Fix": See a screening of "The Big Fix," a film by Josh and Rebecca Tickell of Green Planet Productions which examines the aftermath of the BP oil spill in the gulf (two years later) from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 at Fresh Cafe in Kakaako (831 Queen St.). Cost is $8 online (available at www.ticketleap.com) or $10 at the door. See a trailer here.

Blue Planet's "I Ride Campaign" will thank bicyclists for riding a bike. Courtesy image.

>> I Ride Campaign. Throughout the month of April, the Blue Planet Foundation is going to tag bikes with a handmade thank you card, thanking bikers for reducing fossil fuel consumption. McCully Bicycle is donating 15 Duravision Pro LED safety lights to some of these bikers.Visit blueplanetfoundation.org/bike for more information.

>> Grow Hawaiian Festival. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, the Hawaiian Electric Co. presents the 5th annual Grow Hawaiian Festival at Bishop Museum. There will be keiki games, a native plant sale from Hui Ku Maoli Ola, advice from master gardeners, Hawaiian craft demonstrations, a special guest presentation by Sig Zane, live music, hula and information about energy conservation. Visit growhawaiian.heco.com.

>> Keiki Earth Day: Baby Awearness at Manoa Marketplace hosts Keiki Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Sing with Uncle Wayne, tour a mini farmers market, make smoothies and participate in make-and-take craft activities. Learn about cloth diapering and baby wearing techniques. Purchases on this special day are 10 percent off, while Baby Awearness Xchange purchases are 25 percent off.

There's this Hawaiian Electric Co. commercial that ran at the start of the year, as part of a series of ads aiming to educate the public (and paid for with shareholder funds).

No, not the one where Jade Moon interviews HECO executive Robbie Alm. It's the one where Jade Moon interviews two HECO representatives — Ka‘iulani De Silva from education and consumer affairs and Blaine Cacho, an account manager.

The script goes something like this.

Jade Moon: "Does conservation really work?"

Ka‘iulani De Silva (smiling sympathetically): "We know high electricity costs are frustrating for our customers. But simple steps can amount to surprising savings."

"That's right," chimes in Blaine Cacho, matter-of-factly. "If you turn off the air-conditioner and let the tradewinds cool your home, you can save more than $1,000 a year."

While watching this commercial or whatever you call it, I found myself talking to the TV. "But we don't have any air-conditioning in this house! Not even a window unit!" I said.

Summers are sweltering in our house. We turn on fans and desperately open up all of the windows, wishing the tradewinds would flow through the house (if only it was built with the windows facing the right direction). The best solution seems to be an escape to the beach.

Our electricity bill currently averages about $200 a month, which is about $50 higher than it was a few years ago (along with everybody else's).

Then Jade asks Blaine about a second refrigerator and he says if it's a really old model, it could be using up plenty of energy. Removing it, he says, could also save you more than $1.000 a year.

"But we don't have a second fridge!" I said. We only have one fridge. It isn't fancy, but it's not one of the old models, either.

The HECO representatives, with pleasant, wanting-to-help smiles, dole out more tips. Washing your laundry in cold water can save more than $800 a year, adds De Silva.

"But we already wash in cold water!" I told the folks on T.V. "We've been doing that for years."

So seriously, what more can we do? HECO has a whole slew of publications with more energy-saving tips which you can find by clicking on "Energy Savings Toolkit." You have the "Power to Save" pamphlet as well as the "101 Ways to Save" brochure and the "Energy Tips & Choices" booklet. HECO does do a good job of putting out all these education pamphlets.

Still, our bill hasn't gone down much lately.

Did I mention that we already have a solar water heater and that we line-dry, too? Well, most of the time. On rainy days, we do resort to the dryer.

Lately, I've been walking around the house, flipping off the lights (yes, powered by energy-efficient compact fluorescents, mind you) and switching off various power strips at night, too. I bought an energy-saving "smart" power strip which keeps the DVD player from sucking out energy when it's not in use.

Since 2010, monthly bills have risen by 50 percent, says Alm, almost all of it due to oil. In the wake of the tsunami in Japan, oil has largely replaced nuclear energy, causing prices in the Asia Pacific region to skyrocket.

The cost of electricity is only going one way – up. You know what I think? I think it's time to go solar. The federal and state tax credits are still available, and there's still enough room in plenty of neighborhoods without HECO's concerns about destabilizing their circuits.

Do you know how much solar PV there is on your street? You can look it up on this map.

Stay tuned.

Volunteers help count Hawaiian humbpack whales at "Shark's Cove" on Oahu's North Shore. Photo by Jeremy Mitchell/Courtesy of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries.

St. Patrick's Day may be over, but there are plenty of "green" things to do over the next few weekends. Here's a roundup:

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24: Aloha Aina Earth Day Recycling Community Cleanup. Do some spring cleaning and haul your recyclables to Moanalua Middle School and Moanalua Elementary School for an Aloha Aina Earth Day recycling/ yard sale event.

The following items will be accepted free of charge: scrap metal, HI-5 beverage containers, used cooking oil, computers, printers, scanners, monitors, cell phones, newspaper, cardboard, phonebooks, magazines, all types of batteries, TVs (one per car), used eyeglasses and hearing aids, sneakers, DVDs, CDs, plastic playground sets,  and reusable clothing and household items. Contact Erin Kealoha Fale at 586-9470 (office) or 277-9445 (on-site) for more information.

8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 31: Count the whales. Spaces still remain for volunteers to help in the final count of humpback whales around the Hawaiian islands. Volunteers will count the number of humpback whales seen around the islands over a four-hour period and record their behavior. To register, go to sanctuaryoceancount.org. To find out more, go to hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, March 31: Beach cleanup at Kewalo Basin, Oceandig. This beach cleanup, organized by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, promises to be rewarding with a potluck-style BBQ and raffles, games and prizes. Join Oceandig, the After Party later at 6 p.m. at Fresh Cafe in Kakaako to discuss ocean sustainability, watch "Bag It" and listen to live music from local reggae artist Mike Love of Dubkonscious and former American Idol contestant Paula Fuga (who's collaborated with Jack Johnson).

8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31: Earth Hour. The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui is planning to participate in Earth Hour 2012, a global environmental awareness event organized by the World Wildlife Fund. At 8:30 p.m. Hawaii time, all 60 of the Fairmont's world-class hotels and resorts will go dark to draw attention to climate change. The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui will switch off non-essential lighting and encourage guests to turn on flashlights located in each guest room and from their lanai. The hotel will also illuminate its main entrance with more than 200 floating candles in the lobby fountain along with live, unplugged entertainment in Luana Lounge. To participate in Earth Hour, turn off your lights for an hour starting at 8:30 p.m.

PACT Keiki Day's Writing and Art Contest is themed "Energy Super Heroes." Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 29.

Parents and Children Together (PACT) has launched a Writing and Art Contest for Oahu students in partnership with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii Energy.

Students in grades 1 through 12 are invited to express themselves by submitting original stories, poems or artwork related to the theme of "Energy Super Heroes." One winner per grade will be selected. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 29.

Keiki are encouraged to think about energy conservation and how to change energy-wasting habits, plus brainstorm a zero-energy home for an Energy Super Hero and share fun indoor or outdoor activities that can be done without electricity.

Winning submissions will be published in the special PACT Keiki Day edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on May 9 (available for purchase throughout Oahu with proceeds to benefit PACT and its 15 programs). Each winner also receives more than $100 in cash and prizes.

Art pieces should be no larger than 18-inches by 24-inches and written work should be on longer than 350 words. Print complete information on the back of each entry, including: name, address, phone number, grade level, school name and teacher's name. All entries become the property of PACT and Hawaii Energy.

Participating students may download a submission form at pactkeikiday.org, then mail or deliver their entries to:

Parents And Children Together Keiki Day, PACT
1485 Linapuni Street, Suite 105
Honolulu, HI 96819

If you have questions, call Norma at 847-3285 Ext. 711 or visit www.pactkeikiday.org.

Van Jones, founder of Rebuild The Dream and author of "The Green Collar Economy," will be on hand for a pop-up dinner conversation at the Capitol Rotunda on March 20. Photo from Van Jones Facebook.

In a first of its kind event, Kanu Hawaii is co-sponsoring what it calls a "pop-up dinner" conversation with nationally renowned speaker and activist Van Jones at the Capitol Rotunda on March 20.

It's part of a movement that Kanu is calling "Dream Revival Hawaii." You can also expect to hear some live poetry from Kealoha and music by Jive Nene and Kupa‘aina.

Dubbed one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009 by TIME magazine, Van Jones is recognized as a pioneer in human rights and the clean energy economy.

A Yale Law School graduate, Jones is president and co-founder of Rebuild The Dream, described as "a pioneering initiative to restore good jobs and economic opportunity." He is also the author of "The Green Collar Economy" and co-founder of three nonprofits: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change and Green for All.

Kanu and the Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) invite folks to bring tables, chairs, food and their ideas to the Capitol for a discussion with Van about creating a "sustainable, equitable economy." Van Jones is expected to present a platform for  bottom-up, people-powered economic solutions to promote sustainable agriculture, state banks and affordable education.

Dream Revivals are being held across the U.S. with the help of celebrities, musician, artists and progressive leaders as part of a movement calling for a more just and sustainable economy.

Legislative visits, art, culture and movement-building training take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The pop-up dinner with Van Jones is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

If you've been feeling apathetic, this might just be the place to get your activist mojo back. The event is free. You can RSVP by clicking here.

Volunteers at a Sustainable Coastlines beach cleanup. Oceandig, a beach cleanup at Kewalo Basin is scheduled for March 31, with an After Party at Fresh Cafe. Photo courtesy Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is organizing a family-focused beach cleanup at Kewalo Basin Park from 9 a.m. to noon on March 31.

Check in is at 9:30 a.m. Gloves, trash bags and water will be provided. All ages are welcome. After the beach cleanup, there will be a potluck style pa‘ina barbecue, with raffles, games and prizes.

The rubbish collected at Kewalo will be quantified, much of it recycled and some of it repurposed for art, jewelry, product packaging and other uses. Statistics will be reported to NOAA and other agencies.

Visit www.sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org or follow them on Twitter @Coasthuggers and Facebook.

At 6 p.m., participants and community members are invited to Oceandig, an After Party at Fresh Cafe to discuss future strategies for minimizing ocean pollution. Don't miss performances by local reggae artist Mike Love of  Dubkonscious and former American Idol contestant Paula Fuga (who's collaborated with Jack Johnson). Besides live music, there will be a silent auction, cash bar and support from sponsors Styrophobia and Method Cleaning Products. Watch "Bag It," if you haven't already seen it, about how our lives have been taken over by plastic.

Guest speakers include adventurer Dave Cornthwaite, Pangaea Explorations Program Director Emily Penn and NOAA Japan Tsunami Debris specialist Ruth Yenger.