Responsible Travel May Cost $1 in the City of Brownsville

Whenever the notion of responsible travel comes up, the state of Texas rarely comes to mind. Known more for its sensational beef and controversial oil industries, Texas is typically not associated with the idea of conservation. One Texas city is striving to change that reputation one plastic bag at a time. Instituting a regulation on par with the trendiest and greenest of California cities, the city of Brownsville is now charging customers $1 for using plastic bags in lieu of reusable grocery bags. This courageous movement goes into effect January 5. All convenience stores and grocery stores will ban the use of plastic bags, collecting a $1 surcharge for every customer who does not have a resuable bag. As if this weren't forward- thinking enough, the city plans to use the surcharge to maintain its green initiatives around the city. Who knew that legislative action unable to be passed in more "green" cities could be instituted in a Texas town? Knowing that the city is taking proactive steps towards a greener
society should increase the amount of responsible travel to the region. By increasing the amount of responsible travel to Brownsville, financial statistics will begin to support the development of more green initiatives throughout the state.

The City of Brownsville is not low on parks. Striving to improve the quality of life for its residents by providing numerous green spaces, Brownsville has over a dozen parks to choose from. Since a large part of responsible travel is becoming one with nature, there is no better way to do so than to enjoy one of Brownville's parks. By adding a trip the park to a responsible travel itinerary, you are indirectly support yet another green initiative in the works for the City of Brownsville. The city wants to create an eco- industrial virtual park, which would combine all of their regional parks into one main park entity. This combination would allow the Brownsville parks and recreation departments to get funding normally reserved for large, singular parks. The funding will be spent towards improving and maintaining the facilities through the purchase of recyclable goods or shared engineering efficiency experts.

Sustainable eateries are still not common in the Brownsville region, but efforts to introduce sustainable farming are gaining some traction. The Dipasa Group is an organization specializing in sustainable production of sesame products. Include a stop by the Dipasa Group in your responsible travel itinerary and experience their sustainably produced agave nectars and sesame seed creations.

The plastic bag surcharge is sending Brownsville, Texas in the right direction. Some residents do not agree with the surcharge, citing political agendas as the real reason for the new law. However, an overwhelming majority of Brownsville residents feel that the surcharge will help to promote green living in the region. Travel to the city and participate in their green living movement.

Photo Credit: jessica mullen