Single Use Carry-out BagsRecycling and Waste Reduction Commission

of Santa Clara County (RWRC)

Presentation to SCCCAJamie McLeod, RWRC Chair, SC

Skip Lacaze, TAC Source Reduction & Recycling Chair, SJJanuary 8, 2009

Problem

• Plastic bags w/o proper disposal … – litters environment, destroys aquatic life/wildlife,– clog drains, flooding,– 1,000 years to decompose, most not recycled,– recycling costs, clean-up costs for local government.

• Single use bags (paper or plastic)– higher consumption of natural resources, – higher generation of green house gases,– Additional waste stream management, clean up costs,

Public Wants Action

• Referred to RWRC, propose countywide policy– Regional approach – easier on business and

consumers (Green Building Initiative)– “Workable solution” to address problem, be

responsive to stakeholders

• Ultimately city/county responsibility– RWRC no authority to implement– Action pending in some cities (SJ, PA)

Options

• Aggressive: outright ban – fast results, challenging for businesses and consumers, SF.

• Active: incentive for behavioral change – allows for transition, successful case studies.

• Passive: education only – very slow results, success limited, problem typically remains.

• Ignore: Do nothing – problem remains, grows.

Stakeholder Input• Bag Manufacturers & Labor

– Support: multi-use manufactures (paper & plastic)– Concern: single-use manufacture (need to retool), more work to implement.

• Business Owners, Organizations, Chambers – Support: no fee for business, money to implement (now buy bags, give away)– Concern: ban, timing, implement (reprogram registers, reports), bureaucracy.

• Consumers – Support: exemptions - food hygiene (meat, vegetables), paper (cards, copies)– Concern: cost prior to behavioral change, impact on low-income.

• Public – Support: reduced costs for clean up/clearing of drains, flood protection,

aesthetics & community pride, environmental protection.

Criticism: ranges from “not strong enough” to “too strong”CA Grocer’s Assn “public heading in this direction…help steer ship” (AB68)

Current DraftIntent: modify behavior, minimize challenges to implement• 25 cents for single-use carry-out bags (paper & plastic)• Maximum $2• Consumer pays, not business • 5 cents to business to implement, 20 cents to jurisdictions

Evolved - ban to behavioral change, includes all single-use bags, phase in, transparency to customers, revenue to implement.

Exemptions• Restaurants & take out• Protect food hygiene (meats, produce)• Protect paper products (card insert bags, copies)• Food Stamp & WIC programs

Timeline• April 23, 2008 – Update on plastic bag issue.• August 27, 2008 – Presentation on single-use bags, sample

programs, policy issues, stakeholder input.• October 22, 2008 – Policy discussion , model ordinance

options, stakeholder input.

• December 10, 2008 – Discussion of draft ordinance, input.• December 12, 2008 – Sent draft model ordinance to cities/

county for feedback on implementation.• January 8, 2009 – Presentation to SCCCA.

• February 25, 2009 – Compile input, forward to cities/county. • April 22, 2009 – Earth Day (adopt, future implementation).

Feedback Needed• Implementation – use fee only as cost recovery for

outreach, education, and litter abatement activities.• Enforcement – city-specific or countywide approach?

(cities issue business licenses, but County Weights & Measures is already in many stores to check pricing accuracy)

• CEQA – required, Negative Declaration sufficient?

• Timing – when implement, given economy & city budgets? • Adopt vs. Implement – Earth Day? implement in future?

Many challenges, few opportunities to make valued change