AgdaPkt 2013-03-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.2.A. - Page 1 RE PO RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Cit Mana er March 11, 2013 SUBJECT Ordinance to promote sustainability by prohibiting the distribution of single-use carryout plastic bags RECOMMENDATION 1. Adopt a Resolution Making CEQA Findings for Adoption of An Ordinance of the City of Redwood City Adding Article III ("Reusable Bags") to Chapter 13 (Environmental Health Code) of the Redwood City Municipal Code; 2. Waive First Reading and Introduce an Ordinance Prohibiting the Distribution of Single-Use Carryout Plastic Bags. BACKGROUND In 2012, San Mateo County prepared an ordinance and a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a ban on single-use plastic bags, in favor of the use of reusable bags. The Board of Supervisors certified the EIR and introduced the ordinance on October 23, 2012. The ordinance was unanimously adopted by the Board on November 6, 2012, and the County's Notice of Determination was filed on November 9, 2012. The ordinance will go into effect on April 22, 2013. In late October, the Board of Supervisors wrote a letter requesting that Redwood City adopt a similar reusable bag ordinance. A total of 18 cities in San Mateo County that have retail establishments within their borders (Atherton and Hillsborough do not), including Redwood City, had previously expressed interest to the County in eventually adopting the County ordinance either as approved by the Board of Supervisors or by reference. The EIR, its Study Area, and its analysis includes these 18 cities, along with six cities in Santa Clara County. This allows cities to adopt the ordinances without needing to conduct a separate environmental analysis. Plastic and Paper Shoppinq Baqs A great number of plastic shopping bags are used and then discarded in the garbage and landfills throughout California. One study estimates that, statewide, 400 new plastic bags are used every second, and that almost all of these bags are not recycled. It's estimated that nearly 400 million plastic bags are used annually in San Mateo County, and about 42 million annually in Redwood City alone. Less than 8% of these plastic bags are recycled — the majority ending up in landfills, storm drains, or as litter. They are a common litter item found in roadway, park, and creek cleanups in Redwood City.