HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS (2)Agenda Item: 10
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
DATE: September 10, 2013
SUBJECT: REVIEW AND DISCUSS OPTIONS TO ADDRESS SINGLE -USE
PLASTIC BAGS DISTRIBUTED BY COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive report and provide direction regarding single -use plastic bags.
BACKGROUND
At the request of the City Council, staff researched municipal strategies that limit the use of
single -use plastic bags.
The City of Santa Clarita's (City) current approach to address single -use plastic bags has focused
on promoting the use of reusable bags. A variety of outreach has been completed through the
City's GreenSantaClarita.com website, print advertising, waste hauler newsletters, partnering
with Los Angeles County's A Day Without a Bag campaign and the distribution of reusable bags
at events, including River Rally and Earth Arbor Day. Additionally, the City encourages residents
to recycle their single -use plastic bags through their regular curbside recycling program offered
by the residential franchised hauler.
Over the past five years, a total of 58 ordinances have banned single -use plastic bags in 79
jurisdictions in California. All 58 of the ordinances limit grocery stores from distributing
single -use bags to customers. Forty-seven of the ordinances further extend the ban to retail
establishments, and 25 include restaurants. A total of 51 ordinances include a fee ranging from 5
to 25 cents for customers who wish to purchase paper or biodegradable bags. A list of the
jurisdictions banning single -use plastic bags is attached.
With the implementation of ordinances banning single -use plastic bags, several lawsuits were
filed challenging such bans. The initial lawsuits focused on challenges to ordinances based upon
an alleged failure to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The
ordinances where cities attempted to use an exemption to CEQA were initially not upheld.
However, the City of Manhattan Beach adopted a negative declaration in connection with their
ordinance, which was upheld by the California Supreme Court. Subsequent to that case, San Luis
Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority adopted an ordinance based upon a
CEQA exemption, and their ordinance survived a CEQA challenge.
Other lawsuits have focused on the scope of the ban. The City of San Francisco adopted a ban
that applied to all retailers (not just grocery), and a challenge was brought arguing provisions of
the California Food Code pre-empted the City of San Francisco's ordinance. The trial court
disagreed, indicating the City of San Francisco could adopt such an ordinance. The case is
currently on appeal.
Many ordinances have a requirement that the retailer distributing paper bags in place of the
single -use plastic bags must charge customers for those bags. The proceeds must be used towards
costs of complying with the ordinance. The County of Los Angeles' ordinance was challenged for
this provision. The Court of Appeal recently upheld the County's fee.
Based upon recent case history, should the City Council wish to adopt an ordinance,
consideration should be given to the following elements:
• Appropriate steps should be taken to ensure compliance with CEQA. Cities and counties
have used CEQA exemptions to Environmental Impact Reports with Statements of
Overriding Considerations to ensure compliance. The appropriate level of CEQA will depend
primarily upon the scope of the ordinance the City Council considers for adoption.
• If the City wishes to include a fee for paper bags, consider having the retailers retain the fees
to cover any associated costs related to compliance with the ordinance.
• Consider exempting restaurants from the ordinance until the pending litigation addressing
such provisions is resolved.
• Consider approach to enforcement. Staff has discussed enforcement with jurisdictions with
ordinances in effect. Based on responses from the cities contacted, the code enforcement
divisions at the respective cities are tasked with responding to community concerns to ensure
the retailers are following the ordinance. Most ordinances have a progressive fee structure in
place for retailers that are noncompliant. .
State and Federal legislation have also been introduced regarding single -use plastic bags. There
are two State Assembly and Senate bills in the California State Legislature aimed to ban
single -use plastic bags statewide. Assembly Bill 158 would prohibit stores over specified retail
floor space or a specified amount of dollar sales from distributing single -use plastic bags to
customers on or after January 1, 2015. Senate Bill 529 would prohibit fast-food facilities from
distributing disposable food packaging or single -use carryout bags to consumers unless they are
NJ
compostable on or after July 1, 2014. There is also a Federal Bill, House of Representatives
1686, that would add a five -cent tax to all paper and plastic disposable bags nationwide. Staff has
attached a matrix summarizing the pending legislation.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
The City Council may also consider the following alternatives to banning single -use plastic bags.
• Direct staff to continue the City's current efforts promoting the use of reusable bags and the
recycling of single -use plastic bags.
• Direct staff to work with local retailers and grocery stores to voluntarily switch to
compostable alternatives including, but not limited to, paper bags.
• Direct staff to report back to the City Council in six months with an update of the pending
lawsuits against local ordinances and legislation addressing single -use plastic bags and
conduct public outreach to receive community feedback.
• Direct staff to draft an ordinance banning single -use plastic bags.
FISCAL IMPACT
ATTACHMENTS
Cities that banned Single -Use Plastic Bags
Legislation Affecting Single -Use Plastic Bags
Options to Address Single -Use Plastic Bags
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