July 1 - Local Bag Ordinances Take Effect This Week
Three ordinances banning single use plastic bags and one expansion of an existing ordinance will go into effect this week.
• San Carlos’ ordinance, which is modeled after San Mateo County’s ordinance, bans single-use plastic bags and allows retailers to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags. The ordinance was adopted in February, but did not go into effect until today to give retailers time to prepare.
• Palo Alto, which adopted an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags at large supermarkets in 2009, will expand its ordinance to include all retailers - including restaurants - today. Restaurants are not required to charge for paper bags.
• Glendale's ordinance banning single-use plastic bags in large supermarkets and farmers markets goes into effect today. It expands to include smaller stores, liquor stores and drug stores in January, 2014.
• Los Altos’ ordinance will go into effect on Thursday, July 4. The ordinance bans single-use plastic bags and allows retailers to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags. The minimum charge will increase to 25 cents in 2015.
Last week, the City of Los Angeles became the largest city in the United States to pass a local ordinance banning single-use plastic bags. That ordinance, which was signed into law on Wednesday, June 26, goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2014. There are now 77 California communities covered under plastic bag ordinances.
Find out why it’s so important that we continue working to phase out single use plastic grocery bags.
Photo Credit: Curtis Cartier
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