Plastic Carryout Bag Program Status and Update Presented by: Jenneen Hartshorn March 8, 2009

The regulations allow a carryout bag recycling rate to be determined using comingled recycled film plastic data. This will be calculated by Cal Recycle using the proportion of carryout bags in comingled film plastic recycled by stores.  Staff worked diligently with many of the major grocery and pharmacy chains (with the majority of regulated stores), but they eventually declined to participate.

 Sampling was delayed for over a year.  Major modifications to the sampling plan were made so that a reasonably representative sample could be collected.  Results may not be as representative of actual conditions as the original sampling plan that included the major grocery and pharmacy chains. The resulting recycling rates will also not be as representative.

 California State University, Sacramento is currently conducting the plastic carryout bag characterization study of plastic carryout bags and other film plastic materials. The study will develop an average recycling rate for plastic carryout bags recycled in co-mingled film plastic.

 Sent certification notices to 756 operators by 2/8/2010.  Scheduled to send 2009 courtesy reminders the week of March 7 th.  The 2009 Annual Report completion is dependent on the completion of the CSU, Sacramento study.

Mailed notifications to 693 operators. Responses were received from:  356 operators and designated reporting parties, representing over 4700 stores.  302 of the 356 submitted data on the amount of bags provided to customers; and  268 of the 356 submitted bag and mixed film plastic recycling data.

 45 said they did not use plastic carryout bags or did not meet the definition of a store.  79 went out of business, merged with other companies already reporting, or did not have mailing addresses that could be verified.

Number of Participating Stores** Estimated Weight of Plastic Carryout Bags Purchased (millions of pounds) 4, * Results are tentative pending the completion of co-mingled recycling rate study. ** Operators who did not submit a store list are assumed to be operating one (1) store. Figure 1 Plastic Carryout Bags Purchased for Distribution to Customers January to December 2008*

Number of Stores per Operator Number of Store Operators Average Weight of Bags Purchased per Store* (pounds) ,000 2 to 54717,000 6 to , to 20829, to , ,000 Figure Average Weight of Plastic Carryout Bags Purchased for Distribution to Customers Reported by Number of Stores per Operator *Stores per operator based on operator store lists.

Figure Percentage of Plastic Carryout Bags Purchased Reported by Number of Stores per Operator* *Results are tentative pending the completion of the co-mingled recycling rate study; Stores per operator based on operator store lists.

Number of Participating Stores** Estimated Weight of Plastic Carryout Bags Recycled (millions of pounds) With Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling Data No Plastic Carryout Bags Recycled 640 Figure 4 Plastic Carryout Bags Recycled by Stores Reporting No Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling or Only Plastic Carryout Bag Recycling January to December 2008* *Results are tentative pending the completion of co-mingled recycling rate study. **Operators who did not submit a store list are assumed to be operating one (1) store.

Number of Participating Stores** Estimated Weight of Co-Mingled Bags and Film Plastic (millions of pounds) Reports Submitted3,63430 Figure 5 Co-Mingled Plastic Carryout Bags and Film Plastic Recycled January to December 2008* * Results are tentative pending the completion of co-mingled recycling rate study. ** Operators who did not submit a store list are assumed to be operating one (1) store.

Operator Size (Stores per Operator) Reported Only Plastic Carryout Bags Recycled Reported Co-mingled Bags and Film Plastic Estimated Comingled Bags and Film Plastic Recycled (lbs)* Estimated Percentage of Weight * 12%<1%123,000<1% 2 to 54%<1%274,0001% 6 to 102%1%329,0001% 11 to 202%1%244,0001% 20 to 10033%6%3,200,00010% %92%25,600,00087% Figure Recycled Plastic Carryout Bags or Co-mingled Carryout Bags and Film Plastic Reported by Number of Stores per Operator* * Results are tentative pending the completion of the co-mingled recycling rate study; stores per operator based on operator store lists.

At-Store Website California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 4, Article 6 asticBags/default.htm asticBags/default.htm AB /ab_2449_bill_ _chaptered.htmlhttp:// 2450/ab_2449_bill_ _chaptered.html Cal Recycle - Plastics Information and Resources