[Support of the Checkout Bag Charge and Recyclable Paper or Compostable Pre-Checkout Bag Ordinance File Number:190417]
Resolution urging the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to adopt File Number 190417, an Ordinance amending the Environment Code to raise the amount stores must charge for checkout bags from 10 cents to 25 cents per bag and to require that pre-checkout bags provided to customers before they reach the point of sale be recyclable paper or compostable.
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco has a duty to protect the natural environment, the economy, and the health of its citizens; and,
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco has a goal of achieving zero waste, which includes the elimination of single-use plastic bags; and,
WHEREAS, At the Global Climate Action Summit in September 2018, Mayor Breed updated San Francisco’s zero waste goal by committing to reduce 2015 solid waste generation levels by 15% and materials disposed 50% by 2030; and,
WHEREAS, Policies that promote reusable or compostable bags encourage the reuse of materials, thereby conserving resources and protecting the environment; and,
WHEREAS, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture; and,
WHEREAS, The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags and only 1% of plastic bags are recycled; and,
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Department of Environment sponsored a groundbreaking ordinance in 2007 making it one of the first cities in the nation to prohibit stores from providing single-use plastic checkout bags; and,
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Department of Environment sponsored a subsequent ordinance in 2012 that added a mandatory 10-cent charge for other permitted checkout bag types to promote reusables and reduce waste generation; and,
WHEREAS, In 2014, the State of California became the first state in the nation to pass a bill to prohibit single-use plastic bags at point of sale and require a 10-cent minimum charge for carryout bags provided at point of sale which became effective in November 2016 after voters upheld the bill through a statewide referendum; and,
WHEREAS, Policies on single-use bags have been effective in encouraging consumers to use less single-use bags and more reusable bags; and,
WHEREAS, Based on a survey conducted by the Department of the Environment in 2018, 43% of surveyed retailers in San Francisco offer plastic reusable checkout bags, 51% offer recyclable paper bags and 6% offer both types; and,
WHEREAS, Santa Cruz reports that its 25-cent checkout bag charge has resulted in significant change among customers, with 90% of customers now bringing their own bags. To date, 11 cities and counties in California have mandated a checkout bag charge higher than 10 cents per bag; and,
WHEREAS, In 2016, with 40% of the population of the State of California covered by local single-use plastic bag bans, coastal clean-up data for that year showed plastic grocery bag litter had dropped by 66%; and,
WHEREAS, Supervisor Vallie Brown introduced an ordinance increasing the amount stores must charge for checkout bags from 10-cents to 25-cents per bag and requiring that pre-checkout bags provided to customers before they reach the point of sale be recyclable paper or compostable; and,
WHEREAS, The ordinance defines a “Compostable Pre-checkout Bag” to include those certified by and labeled with the logo of the Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI) or other third party recognized by the Department as meeting ASTM D6400 Standard Specifications for composability and conforms to at least the minimum State standards for manufacturers of compostable plastic bags; and,
RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment recognizes that an ordinance discouraging single-use plastic bags at checkout and promoting recyclable paper or compostable pre-checkout bags will help the City and County of San Francisco make progress toward its goal of zero waste; and, be it,
FUTHER RESOLVED, That the Commission on the Environment urges the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to adopt File Number 190417, an ordinance ensuring single-use bag reduction.
I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted at the Commission on the Environment’s Meeting on May 28, 2019.
Anthony Valdez, Commission Secretary
Vote: 6-0 Approved
Ayes: Commissioners Ahn, Chu, Stephenson, Sullivan, Wald and Wan
Noes: None
Absent: Commissioner Bermejo