Jan 8 - Foster City Adopts First Bag Ordinance of 2013

In the first week of the new year, local governments are again taking up the cause against plastic bag pollution.

Yesterday evening, the Foster City Council adopted the first local bag ordinance of the year in California. The total is now 36 ordinances, covering 57 cities or counties.

The Foster City bag ordinance, which was initially approved by council in December of last year, will prohibit single-use plastic bags and mandate a ten cent charge on paper and reusable bags in all retail stores citywide, starting on Earth Day (April 22, 2013).

Sound familiar? That's because San Mateo County passed the same ordinance late last year, allowing Foster City and 23 other cities to follow suit.

And follow they have. Since November of 2012, five other cities in or near San Mateo County have adopted the ordinance, with many others lined up to do the same. This week alone, City Councils in Belmont and several other jurisdictions are scheduled to either adopt or introduce the bag ordinance.

For our recap of the local success of bag bans last year, click here.

Keep an eye on our count for local bag ordinances--it's going to keep climbing!