ASPEN — Aspen Councilman Torre is asking local residents as well as citizens across the state to take the “21-Day Reusable Challenge,” according to a city news release.

The event is an environmental initiative started by Olympic snowboarding medalist and Snowmass Village resident Gretchen Bleiler. On Earth Day, which falls this year on Friday, Bleiler will issue an online challenge to everyone, asking them to go 21 days without using disposable plastic water bottles, plastic bags or Styrofoam from take-out restaurants.

“The idea is that it takes 21 days to build a habit.” Bleiler said in a video on the website www.21dayreusablechallenge.com. She is giving away prizes to people who best document their efforts to live up to the challenge.

Torre would like to see Bleiler's efforts multiply across the state. He is inviting schools, governments, businesses and individuals to undertake the effort, “not just for 21 days, but to start there and make it a lifetime habit.”

Bleiler has already begun building awareness for the challenge on her Facebook page, the challenge's website and with recorded public service announcements on radio and the Internet. One of her sponsors, Oakley, is also taking the challenge as a company and Blieler is recording a video to promote the effort.

Torre has been seeking legislative action, as well as participation in voluntary community programs, to lessen the use of both single-use plastic grocery bags and water bottles.

To see Bleiler's video messages go to: www.youtube.com/ user/ reusablechallenge?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/5cpo1P46t10