About one million plastic bags will be used worldwide. That staggering fact has prompted a group of Rutland students and community members to, literally, "make" a change for Earth Day.

"The materials were donated by businesses and people who just had materials. and the handles are made out of old ties", says Rachel Black, a Rutland High School senior.

Members of the organization, Sustainable Rutland, made roughly 100 reusable shopping bags over the weekend.

On Earth Day, they stood outside a local shopping area and handed them out to shoppers, free of charge.

"People love to use reusable bags if they remember them. so thats what we're doing here. catching them at the door to say 'hey go back get those bags'. and if they dont have one, heres one on us', says Jim Sabataso of Sustainable Rutland.

The effort is part of the organization's long running effort, "Bag the Bag" campaign, which aims to eventually make Rutland a bag free city.