Island residents continue to find ways to clean up Ambergris Caye, and the most recent initiative is to make handbags from discarded dog food bags. Championing the project is Lara Goldman of 12 Belize Boutique, who makes the bags and markets them at the San Pedro Animal Hospital and her boutique. All proceeds of the bags purchased at the animal hospital are donated to the institution, while any bags purchased at the boutique guarantees 50% will go towards the animal hospital.
Goldman shared with The San Pedro Sun that the idea came to her after a visit in Portugal. While there, she noticed reusable bags made from empty potato chip bags. On her return to the island that Goldman began looking for an item in abundance that could be recycled. Dog food bags came into the project and are now being used to make handbags that can be used to carry your shopping items from the grocery store. “This is another attempt to raise awareness that it is very important to recycle,” Goldman said. Anyone with empty dog food bags wanting to get rid of them can take them to the animal hospital located at Pedro’s Inn on Seagrape Drive or by 12 Belize Boutique as well in downtown. Prices for the reusable bags range from $8 to $45.
Other products Goldman is working on from recyclable materials include dog poop bag holders with wrist straps made from pill bottles. Shampoo bottles are turned into earbud or jewellery cases. For those near downtown, 12 Belize is located at Tarpon Street, across from the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School.
