Title
Recommendation to Enter into StopWaste's Expansion of the Countywide Reusable Bag Ordinance. (Public Works 274.1)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Enter into StopWaste's Expansion of the Countywide Reusable Bag Ordinance
BACKGROUND
Approximately 150 cities and counties in California have adopted reusable bag ordinances, sometimes referred to as plastic bag bans. These ordinances typically prohibit single-use bags at grocery and other stores and require the retailer to charge a small fee for the sale of a paper or reusable plastic bags. These ordinances have proven to reduce plastic bag litter, especially in the state's many waterways.
The City of Alameda has had a reusable bag ordinance in operation since January 1, 2013, after the Alameda County Waste Management Authority's (StopWaste) reusable bag ordinance went into effect.
StopWaste's ordinance prohibited the distribution of single-use bags at most retailers selling packaged food, such as grocery, drug, and liquor stores, and placed a $0.10 per bag minimum charge on recycled-content paper or reusable bags. As a result of the ordinance, the purchases of bags countywide decreased by 85% as shoppers either reused a bag or did not use one at all.
On October 26, 2016, StopWaste approved an expanded reusable bag ordinance for Alameda County. The expanded ordinance will apply to all stores and restaurants in the county, including the City of Alameda. Retail stores will have the same requirements as previously covered stores. Restaurants would not be required to charge customers if distributing recycled content paper bags, but must charge a minimum of $0.10 for a compliant reusable bag. As with the original ordinance, cities who wish to opt out of the expansion must affirmatively do so by December 9, 2016.
In the year leading up to the ordinance's expansion, StopWaste contacted business associations, chambers of commerce an...
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