Single-use, plastic carry-out bags are now banned in all stores. As of April 22, 2014 (Earth Day) customers will need to bring a reusable bag or purchase a paper or reusable bag for a minimum of ten cents. The fee will be kept by the store. The intent of the ordinance is to reduce waste, litter, pollution and environmental impacts by using reusable bags instead of plastic and paper bags.
The ordinance, passed last November, is very similar to the ordinances adopted by San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara County and many other Bay Area communities. Results from other communities indicate that bag use is reduced by about 90 percent as customers bring their own bags or carry out purchases without a bag.
Plastic carryout bags frequently become litter and end up in creeks. These bags are difficult to remove from creek and river vegetation and are harmful to wildlife that ingest or get tangled in them. Plastic bags persist in the environment for many years, and are among the debris observed in the Bay and open ocean.
The ordinance:
· Applies to all retail and grocery stores, except for restaurants, coffee shops, nonprofit charitable reusers (thrift shops/food pantry).
· Protective bags, without handles, may be provided at no charge for meat, produce, bulk food, and prescription medications.
· Customers paying with WIC, CalFresh, SNAP or food stamp cards are exempt from paper bag charges. Show coupons or cards to cashier before bagging begins.
A high-quality reusable bag has the potential to replace more than 600 single-use plastic bags over its lifetime. Paper bags are also problematic. It takes 14 million trees each year in the United States to produce a year’s supply of paper bags for retail use. Using a reusable bag reduces litter and conserves natural resources.
Reusable bag tips:
· Customers may need more than one reusable bag. Many local stores sell a variety of inexpensive reusable bags.
· Keep bags by the front door, in the car, laundry room, purse, backpack, at work, or any area that will prompt you to remember to take them with you to the store.
· Treat cloth bags the same as your clothing and wash them regularly.
· Routinely wipe bags that are not machine washable with a sponge and mild soap.
· Keep enough reusable bags with you to avoid paying for paper bags at store checkout.
