San Mateo County Environmental Health, as the lead agency for a Model Ordinance that Bans Single Use Plastic Shopping Bags, has issued a Draft Environmental Report (DEIR) covering this program. The City of San Carlos is one of 24 cities along with the County that is participating in this program.
Proposed Ordinance
The Proposed Ordinance would regulate the use of paper and plastic single use carryout bags and apply to all retail establishments located within the limits of the Study Area, including those selling clothing, food, and personal items directly to the customer. It would not apply to restaurants nor nonprofit charitable reuse organizations.
The Proposed Ordinance would (1) prohibit the free distribution of single-use carryout paper and plastic bags and (2) require retail establishments to charge customers for recycled paper bags and reusable bags at the point of sale. The minimum charge would be ten cents ($0.10) per paper bag until December 31, 2014 and twenty-five cents ($0.25) per paper bag on or after January 1, 2015.
Single-use plastic carryout bags are defined as bags made from petroleum or bio-based plastic that are less than 2.25 mils thick (0.00225 inches). The Proposed Ordinance would prohibit retailers from distributing both petroleum and bio-based single-use carryout plastic bags at the point of sale. The Proposed Ordinance would not prohibit the distribution of plastic "product bags".
Retail establishments would be required to keep a complete and accurate record (including documents of the purchase andsale of any recycled paper bag or reusable bag) for a minimum period of three years from the date of purchase and sale. The record must be available for inspection during regular business hours by any County employee authorized to enforce this part at no cost to the County. The charge would be retained by the affected stores to compensate the stores for increased costs related to compliance with the Proposed Ordinance.
- County Web Site: We Think it's Time to Bag the Bag
- Draft EIR: Single Use Bag Ban Ordinance (Acrobat File)
- Single Use Bag Ban - Draft Ordinance Language (Acrobat File)
- EIR Scoping Meetings Presentation - Single Use Bag Ban (Acrobat File)
As specified by the State CEQA Guidelines, the Program DEIR will be available for public comment for a 45-day review period, beginning on June 22, 2012 and ending on August 6, 2012.
Comments may be submitted, in writing, by 5:00 p.m. on August 6, 2012 and addressed to: Camille M. Leung, Planner, Planning and Building Department, 455 County Center, Second Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063, cleung@smcgov.org, (650) 363-1826.
The City of San Carlos plans outreach meetings on the Proposed Model Ordinance for a Single Use Plastic Bag Ban in the City later this year.
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