Background on proposed plastic bag ban

Proposed Plastic Bag Restrictions TOWN OF DANVILLE INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS | JULY 2014

Today’s Agenda  Welcome & Overview  SB 270 & Possible Ordinance  Outreach & Education  Questions  Participant Feedback  Wrap‐Up

What are “single‐use” plastic carryout bags?  They are: plastic carryout bags with handles.

 They are NOT: produce bags, bags used to cover soup, garment bags

History of the Plastic Bag Issue  State law requires that grocery stores provide location to recycle single‐use plastic carryout bags (5‐10% success rate)  Statewide ban on plastic bags attempted and failed before Issue has been on cities’ and counties’ radar screens for the last few years  Senate Bill 270 may be passed this fall. Cities seeking to adopt their own ordinance must take action by September 1, 2014 and adopt an ordinance by January 1, 2015

Environmental Impact  5‐10% of single‐use plastic bags are recycled  Plastic bags slowly break up and contaminate soil and waterways as they degrade, affecting fish, wildlife and other natural ecosystems  Plastic bags are a key source of litter in our waterways/storm drains

More cities are taking action  Cities are taking action to reduce environmental impact and meet more stringent state and regional policies  112 cities/counties in California are covered by local ordinances  Seven cities in Contra Costa have passed local ordinances (most recently Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Martinez); all of Alameda County

Impact of Local Ordinances  December 2013 study by the City of San Jose one year after their ordinance took effect: ∙ 89% fewer plastic bags in storm drains ∙ 60% fewer plastic bags in creeks ∙ 59% fewer plastic bags on city streets

Town of Danville’s Options 1. Do Nothing 2. Allow SB 270 to take effect 3. Implement a Local Ordinance 4. Hybrid Approach  For consistency, all retailers and restaurants would be affected  Local ordinance affecting most retailers and all restaurants would be similar to Walnut Creek and altered based on public input

SB 270 & Possible Local Ordinance

How it would work…

SB 270 would affect a category of retailers

Town ordinance would affect retailers and restaurants not covered by SB 270

SB 270

Plastic Bag Ban Affecting All Retailers and Restaurants Local Ordinance

What businesses would be affected?

SB 270

approx.

26 stores

Possible Local Ord.

approx. 119 stores 73 restaurants

 Grocery stores, mini‐marts, liquor stores (eff. 7/2016)

 All retailers not affected by SB 270 (eff. 7/2016)

 Stores with at least 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space with a pharmacy (eff. 7/2015)

 All public eating establishments (eff. 7/2016)

 Stores with gross sales of $2 million or greater that sell perishables (eff. 7/2015)

Recycled paper bags in lieu of plastic SB 270

Possible Local Ord.

 Requires retailers to charge a minimum of 10 cents per recycled paper bag

 A minimum charge per recycled paper bag is determined locally: 10 cents or TBD

 Charge would be collected and kept by the retailer

 Charge for paper bag would not need to be listed on receipt

 Defines Recycled Paper Bag based on composition and labeling

 A charge per recycled paper bag, if any, would exempt restaurants  Could define Recycled Paper Bag based on composition and labeling

Enforcement Possible Local Ord.

SB 270

 State of California with permission granted to the Town of Danville  Penalties:  $500 ‐ 1st violation  $1,000 – 2nd violation  $2,000 – 3rd and subsequent violations

 Town of Danville  Penalties (Typical):  Warning Notice ‐ 1st violation  $100 – 2nd violation  $200 – 3rd violation  $500 – 4th and subsequent violations

Recap of Options 1. Do Nothing 2. Allow SB 270 to take effect 3. Implement a Local Ordinance 4. Hybrid Approach  For consistency, all retailers and restaurants would be affected  Local ordinance affecting most retailers and all restaurants would be similar to Walnut Creek and altered based on public input

Process and Timeline • July: Informational Sessions • July – September: Public Input and Outreach, Draft Ordinance

Public Feedback & Draft Ordinance

Potential Council Action • August 12: Council may adopt Resolution of Intent (Non‐Binding) • Before January 1, 2015: Council may adopt an ordinance

• July 1, 2015: SB 270 takes effect for limited retailers • July 1, 2016: SB 270 and Town Ordinance would take effect for remaining retailers and restaurants

Implementation

Questions & Feedback

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FEEDBACK CARD VISIT OUR WEB PAGE:

www.danville.ca.gov/plasticbags OR SEND US FEEDBACK VIA E‐MAIL:

plasticbags@danville.ca.gov