Heal the Bay will provide shoppers with incentives to forgo using plastic bags today at the 6th annual “Day Without a Bag” observance.

“Green Santa” distributes reusable bags for Heal the Bay during “Day Without a Bag” events. (photo courtesy of Heal the Bay)

According to Heal the Bay, this year’s “Day Without a Bag” could possibly be the final one held in Los Angeles, as the city council has approved an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags. The city is currently working to establish a date when the ordinance will go into effect, likely this coming spring or summer. The council approved creating the ordinance last May, but still has to vote on the finalized draft of the law, which is expected to be presented early next year. Once implemented in the city, single-use plastic bags will be banned throughout a majority of L.A. County, which implemented a ban in unincorporated county areas in 2011.

Nancy Shrodes, volunteer and outreach coordinator for Heal the Bay, said this year’s “Day Without a Bag” observance is dedicated to ensuring people can have reusable bags when the city’s ordinance takes effect.

“We want to make sure all customers are prepared for the upcoming bag ban,” Shrodes said. “It will have a huge impact on the environment. With so many residents in the city of Los Angeles, it will be huge.”

Heal the Bay, the city of Los Angeles, Earthwise Bags and grocery retailers Vons/Pavilions, Albertsons and Ralphs will offer prizes and incentives to customers who bring reusable bags on Dec. 20. Vons/Pavilions will distribute free reusable bags at its Hollywood stores — 727 N. Vine St., 4250 Sunset Blvd. and 3461 W. 3rd St. Albertsons will distribute bags at all of its stores from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Ralphs will offer customers triple its Reuse-a-Bag rebate (for a maximum of 10 bags per order) at all stores.

Additionally, Heal the Bay has launched its “Rockin’ Reusable” contest. Participants can take a picture of someone using a reusable bag and post it to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #RockinReusables and tag @HealtheBay to enter.

Winners can receive a limited edition Heal the Bay  “Day Without a Bag” T-shirt, a $100 Vons gift card, as well as other prizes. The contest ends at 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, and winners will be announced on Dec, 21.

For a complete listing of all giveaway and promotion sites, visit www.healthebay.org/dwab.Demonstrator Marla Schulman, a Sherman Oaks resident, is currently fighting to avoid a bank foreclosure on her home. Schulman said she purchased her home in 2006, but later lost her job in 2009 and was unable to make payments. While going through the foreclosure remediation process, she said the original bank that loaned her money sold the loan to another financial institution, and she has since been given an eviction notice.

“I’m still in my home, and I’m fighting,” she said. “The bottom line is the banks are making enough money, and they need to help people.”