Organized by a partnership between the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin and Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, last week Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Md. environmental club students helped make “bag monster” costumes. These costumes will be used by the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation for their educational programs to teach about the impact of single use plastics on the environment.

Click here for more information on the impact of plastic bags on our environment.

The average American consumer uses about 500 bags each year. An estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year. These bags do not biodegrade, instead they photodegrade—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits. They pollute our waterways, leaching toxic chemicals into the soil and water and harm aquatic wildlife.

If you want to learn more about this program or would like to volunteer, contact Antonia Bookbinder of Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.