If you’re ready to enjoy a lower-waste workplace, community, or neighborhood with fewer single-use plastic bags, install a Borrow-A-Bag station at your business, school, office, or nonprofit.

The idea is simple: When you leave the workplace for takeout lunch or retail shopping, grab a bag before you go. After you’re done with the bag – whether it’s for the day or to take items home – return the borrowed, clean, reusable bag to the rack.

Borrow-A-Bag helps eliminate the need for plastic checkout bags during the workday. It’s a great way to highlight waste reduction, reduce plastic waste, and encourage reuse habits in the workplace.

Locally, organizations such as the CWRU Tinkham Veale University Center, the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Cuyahoga County Headquarters, and the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District have established Borrow-A-Bag stations for their staff.

You can have a Borrow-A-Bag station, too, in a few easy steps.

Establish and Set Up Your Station

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  Identify an office or department location near an employee entrance or exit not openly accessible to the public. Place an unused, standalone coat rack or utilize existing wall hooks. Also consider a tote, hamper, Command hooks, shelf, or table as a borrowing spot.

• Place 5-10 clean, reusable bags on the rack or hooks. Decide if a check-in/check-out procedure is needed for the bags.
• Be ready to refill, as some bags will not be returned.
• If needed, request up to five reusable bags from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District to get your borrowing program started (while supplies last).

Communicate with Staff

• Hang a sign on the rack or by the borrowing spot encouraging staff to BYOBags while out shopping or running errands. Signs to promote your Borrow-A-Bag station, customizable with your office contact information, are available from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Contact our business recycling specialist for details or assistance.
• Find champions who will oversee the borrowing station and encourage co-workers to keep the bags clean and in good condition.
• Co-workers may have reusable bags they are willing to donate to the cause.

Celebrate Your Success!

• Share photos in an employee newsletter, the workplace intranet, and with the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.
• Regularly remind staff about the Borrow-A-Bag station and encourage its use to help foster the habit of choosing reusable bags. Recognize everyone’s efforts to reduce plastic waste in your community.
• Enjoy a lower-waste workplace, community, or neighborhood with fewer single-use plastic bags.

History of BYOBags and Cuyahoga County’s Plastic Bag Ban

Cuyahoga County’s Disposable Bag Ban was passed by County Council in 2019. However, the State of Ohio preempted the ordinance with a “ban on bans.” Therefore, the County is not currently enforcing the ordinance. Instead, the County is seeking voluntary compliance and support from retailers and educating and empowering consumers to Bring Your Own Bags (BYOBags).

Cuyahoga County remains committed to eliminating single-use plastic checkout bags and encourages all consumers to bring their own bags.

Cuyahoga County’s BYOBags initiative has provided grants to retailers, distributed reusable bags countywide, participated in community outreach and engagement events, and launched a BYOBags media blitz in 2025.

Sing the jingle with us: Every time you leave your home. Bags, wallet, keys, and phone.

Do you have questions about recycling in the workplace, reducing waste, or BYOBags? Call the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District at (216) 443-3749 or ask our staff. Our team is happy to help you.

POSTED ON: March 18, 2026