SAN JOSE Calif. (DNR) – The city of San Jose, like other cities in the state, will require retail establishments to make changes to their carry-out bag policy. On January 1st the city bill ban single use plastic bags at retail establishments.
Until December 31 2013, retail establishments may make available recycled paper bags for a minimum of 10 cents. According to their new ordinance, #28877, on January 1st 2014 the price will go up to 25 cents.
Councilmember Ash Kalra is telling constituents to start shopping for reusable bags. “A high-quality reusable bag has the potential to replace over 600 single-use plastic bags over its lifetime,” Kalra said this week. “Plastic bags are one of the most common litter items found in creek cleanups. Paper bags are just as problematic taking 14 million trees each year in the United States to produce a year’s supply for retail use.”
The city has been toying with the idea for years. San Francisco has had a partial ban since 2007 and many countries, including Ireland, Italy and Hong Kong, have laws discouraging the use of plastic shopping bags or have banned them altogether.
San Francisco was the first U.S. city to restrict their use. Since then Los Angeles County and Portland Oregon have introduced laws to restrict their use.
Starting January 1st, 29011, the city will enforce a ban on single-use plastic bags. The ban will be enforced at retail stores and restaurants. Customers can purchase paper bags, but the cost needs to be itemized on the receipt.
By: Greg Cook
|
