Santa Monica Considers Comprehensive Bag Ban

1. direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance banning the free distribution to customers of single use plastic (including biodegradable plastic) carryout bags at stores within Santa Monica; and 2. provide staff with direction on a proposal to require retailers to charge a fee on single use paper bags in addition to the ban on plastic bags.

[I]t was determined that the most effective way to reduce the environmental impacts related to plastic bags (including biodegradable plastic) is to ban their use in Santa Monica and promote the use of reusable carryout bags. Single use paper carryout bags should be allowed as an alternative to plastic bags, but should be required to meet certain requirements to minimize the environmental impacts related to their manufacture and transportation. It is recommended that the ordinance provide at least six months prior to taking effect following Council adoption to allow stores to transition. Staff seeks direction from Council on a proposal from the Task Force on the Environment that would require stores to impose a fee on single use paper bags in addition to the ban on plastic bags. The intent of this proposal would be to accelerate a shift away from single use bags towards reusable bags. Budgetary impacts from the adoption of a ban would include costs to prepare and distribute outreach materials for use by stores affected by the ordinance, and staffing costs for implementation and enforcement. Staff estimates that approximately $60,000 per year in supplies and materials and a .5 FTE Administrative Analyst position will be needed to assist stores with compliance prior to the ordinance taking affect, and to develop an ongoing outreach campaign to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.