Single Use Carry-out Bags Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission of Santa Clara County (RWRC) Presentation to SCCCA Jamie McLeod, RWRC Chair, SC Skip Lacaze, TAC Source Reduction & Recycling Chair, SJ January 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 Draft Intent: 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