AgdaPkt 2013-03-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.2.A. - Page 2 The ordinance would potentially reduce Redwood City's annual use of plastic bags by 95% (to about 2 million per year). These plastic bags create litter and can adversely affect marine life when they find their way into our streams, creeks, lakes, and the bay. Recycling facilities also have problems with single use plastic bags. For example, the City of San Jose no longer collects plastic bags at curbside for recycling because they interfere with the recycling facility's machinery and often jam the screens used to separate materials, requiring expensive repairs. As an alternative, shoppers will be encouraged to bring reusable bags with them when shopping. Reusable bags reduce litter and conserve natural resources because a reusable bag has the potential to replace over 600 single-use plastic bags over its lifetime, significantly reducing plastic bag litter, and reducing the one-time use of paper bags. Interest in California and San Mateo County Over two dozen cities in California and seven California counties have ordinances that ban the use of plastic bags and in some cases all single use shopping bags in their communities. Over the last year, all interested San Mateo County cities have either passed or are moving toward passage of an ordinance banning single use plastic shopping bags. In late 2011, the County began work on the development of a Model Single Use Bag Ordinance and a multi-agency Environmental Impact Report. Several cities in Santa Clara County asked to be included in the County's multi-agency EIR effort, and ultimately six of those were included. Ordinance Adopted or First Reading: Belmont rFoster City rPortola Valley Brisbane Half Moon Bay San Bruno Burlingame Menlo Park San Carlos Colma Millbrae South San Francisco Cupertino Mountain View Woodside Daly City Pacifica Ordinance Scheduled for Council (dates are tentative) San Mateo —April 15 East Palo Alto - March 19 I No Date Set