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CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

Council Report

May 6, 2014

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Jason Stilwell, City Administrator

Submitted by: Rob Mullane, AICP, Community Planning and Bui lding Director

Subject: Status Report on Single-Use Plastic Carryout Bags Prohibit ion

Recommendation: Receive a status report on implementation of the City's Single-Use Plastic

Carryout Bags Ordinance

Executive Summary: On July 3, 2012, the City Council adopted an ordinance (Ordinance 2012-

04) that prohibited single-use plastic carryout bags with limited

exceptions. The new carryout bag regulations have been in effect since

February 3, 2013. The Council requested a status report on the

effectiveness of the Ordinance at approximately the one-year mark of the

programs implementation. Several other local jurisdictions in our area

either have or are developing similar bans on single-use plastic bags, and

the State Legislature is considering a State-wide ban.

Analysis/Discussion: Ordinance 2012-04 established a new chapter in Title 8 of the City's

Municipal Code: Chapter 8.74. Single-Use Plastic Carryout Bags. This

chapter is included as Attachment A. The new regulations, which went

into effect on July 3, 2012:

• Eliminated the use of single-use plastic bags by retail

establ ishment s with some exceptions; and

• Encouraged the use of reusable bags

In deliberating the Ordinance in 2012, the Council considered but

ultimately did not include a requirement to charge a small fee for each

paper bag distributed. The fee was to encou rage customers to bring their

own reusable bags or decline a bag altogether. Ultimately, the City

Council omitted a paper bag fee component.

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In the adoption hearing on July 3, 201 2, the Council identified th ree areas

where the effectiveness of the Ordinance could be measured. These

three measures of effectiveness were:

• the type of bags that the City's businesses are using

• the type of bags that customers are using

• the type of bags that are being collected on the beach

Compliance and Effectiveness

Compliance with the prohibition on single-use plastic carryout bags has

been very good, with City staff receiving very few complaints of non­

compliance.

Members from Save our Shores have collected data on the effect iveness

of the ordinance to encourage use of reusable bags and have expressed a

desire for the City Council to revisit the per-bag fee component. Recent

correspondence from Save our Shores including a comparative pre-ban

and post-ban analysis of the frequency that shoppers in Carmel use

reusable bags or no bags is provided as Attachment B.

Legislature at the Local and State Level

Several other local jurisdictions including many in Monterey and Santa

Cruz Counties have similar bans on single-use plastic carryout bags. Most

of these local bans do require that merchants charge a per-bag fee. In

addition, the State Legislature is working on a potent ial State-wide single­

use plastic carryout bag ban (SB 270, Padilla). The current version of this

legislation, which is included as Attachment C, would require a $0.10 per­

bag fee.

The current version of SB 270 would allow cities and counties with local

plastic bag ordinances that were adopted prior to September 2014 to

continue to enforce these local ordinances. However, any modifications

to such a local ordinance after September 1, 2014 would need to be

consistent with the new legislation, if passed. The pertinent section that

discusses preemption is Section 42287 (c).

The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors on March 18, 2014,

decided to proceed with the consideration a reusable bag ordinance that

would apply to the unincorporated areas of Monterey County. The intent

is to get a locally-adopted ordinance in place prior to any pre-emption by

the possible passage of SB 270. County staff have asked if any of the

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Alternatives:

Fiscal Impact:

cities within Monterey County would like to collaborate on and

participate in the development of a new ordinance. The letter from

Monterey County is included as Attachment D.

The Council could direct staff to bring forth an ordinance amendment for

revisions to the existing ordinance. This would need to be adopted prior

to September 1, 2014, in order for the City to avoid pre-emption by any

new State legislation. Should this alternative be selected, it would entail

a new unanticipated undertaking requiring staff and public outreach

efforts.

There are no significant costs with monitoring the compliance with this

ordinance. Reports of non-compliance are rare and are investigated as

part of the normal workload of Code Compliance staff. Should the

Council direct staff to revise the Ordinance, this could be included as an

additional activity of the City. Additional CEQA analysis may be required,

however, and the cost of this environmental analysis is unknown but

likely would be approximately $10,000 or less.

Previous Council

Action/Decision History:

Attachments:

The City Council adopted Ordinance 2012-04 on July 3, 2012. There was

also a Council workshop related to possible alternatives to a mandatory

ban on single-use plastic carryout bags on July 2, 2012. The Council

continued this item as part of agenda management on March 4, 2014.

• Attachment A- Single-Use Plastic Carryout Bags Ordinance

• Attachment B- Recent Correspondence from Save our Shores regarding the Ordinance

• Attachment C- Current Version of SB 270

• Attachment D- April 8, 2014 letter from Monterey County

Reviewed by:

City Administrator~ City Attorney D Administrative Services D

Asst. City Admin. D Dir of CPB ~ Dir of Public Svcs D

Public Safety Dir D Library Dir D Other D

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Attachment A

Chapter 8.74 SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS

Sections:

8.74.010 Purpose.

8.74.020 Definitions.

8.74.030 Applicability.

8.74.040 Exemption.

8.74.050 Enforcement.

.~.~. ?..4.~.Q~.9.-.e.~.~P.~.~·~·~·-·················································· ····-·········-················ · ······-··-·-···-······--···-·····-············-···--·-····-·····-······························-·-···-······················-·-······· The production and disposal of single-use plastic bags cause sign ificant environmental

impacts including contamination of the environment, the deaths of marine animals

through ingestion and entanglement, and widespread litter. The purpose of th is chapter

is to protect, conserve and enhance the City's unique natural beauty and irreplaceable

natural resources through the elimination of single-use plastic carryout bags and by

encouraging the use of reusable bags. The ordinance codified in this chapter shall

become effective six months after the effective date of adoption. (Ord. 2012-04 (Exh. A),

2012).

8.74.020 Definitions.

A A "single-use plastic carryout bag" is defined as a plastic bag provided at the check

stand, cash register, point of sale, or other point of departure for the purpose of

transporting food or merchandise out of the establishment. Single-use plastic carryout

bags do not include bags, a maximum of 11 inches by 17 inches, without hand les

provided to the customer (1) to transport produce, bulk food, candy or meat from a

product, bulk food or meat department within a store to the point of sale; (2) to hold

prescription medication dispensed from a pharmacy; or (3) to segregate food or

merchandise that could damage or contaminate other food or merchandise when placed

together in a bag.

B. A "reusable bag" is defined as a bag with handles that is specifically designed and

manufactured for multiple reuse and is either: (1) made of cloth or other machine

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washable fabric; (2) made of durable plastic that is at least 2.25 mils thick or (3) other

durable material suitable for reuse . (Ord. 2012-04 (Exh. A), 2012).

~.:.?.~.:.Q~Q .. A.Pe.t~.c~~i E~.Y.:. ·---· . .. ..... ________ ................................... _______ -------.......... -............................... .. .. .. ... ............................. _ .. ___ .............. ..

No retail establishment that sells perishable or nonperishable goods including, but not

limited to, clothing, food, and personal items directly to the customer shall provide a

single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer at the check stand, cash register, point of

sale or other point of departure for the purpose of transporting food or merchandise out

of the establishment except as provided in this section. A reusable bag or a recycled

bag may be provided to the customer, pursuant to this section.

A. Public eating establishments, defined as restaurants, take-out food establishments,

or any other business that receives 90 percent or more of its revenue from the sale of

food which is prepared on the premises, to be eaten on or off its premises, are not

considered retail establishments for the purpose of this chapter.

B. A nonprofit charitable reuser, which is a charitable organization as defined in Section

501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or a distinct operating unit or division of

the charitable organization, that reuses and recycles donated goods or materials and

receives more than 50 percent of its revenues from the handling and sale of those

donated goods or materials, are not considered retail establishments for the purpose of

this chapter. (Ord. 2012-04 (Exh. A), 2012).

-~-:.!.~_:.Q_4Q .. E!~-~P-!.!~_I)._:_ .......... _ .. ___ ...... .... _ ... _. _ ......... .. - ....................................................... -................ __ ........................ ................. _ ........ ___ .. ____ _

The City Administrator, or his/her designee, may exempt an affected entity from the

requirements of th is chapter for a period of up to one additional year after the operative

date of this chapter, upon sufficient showing by the applicant that the provisions of this

chapter would cause undue hardship. The phrase "undue hardship" includes:

A. Situations where there are no acceptable alternatives to single-use plastic carryout

bags for reasons which are unique to the entity;

B. Situations where compliance with the requirements of this chapter would deprive a

person of a legally protected right. (Ord . 2012-04 (Exh. A), 2012).

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8.74.050 Enforcement.

Violations of this chapter may be enforced with this section.

A. The City Administrator, or his/her designee, shall be responsible for enforcing this

chapter and shall have authority to issue citations for violations.

B. Anyone violating or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall

be guilty of an infraction.

C. The City Attorney may seek legal, injunctive, or other relief to enforce the provisions

of this chapter.

D. The remedies and penalties provided in this chapter are cumulative and not

exclusive of one another.

E. Violations of this chapter shall be enforced as follows:

1. For the first violation, City Administrator or designee shall issue a written

warning specifying that a violation of this chapter has occurred and which

further notifies the retail establishment of appropriate penalties to be

assessed in the event of future violations. The establishment will have 30

days to comply.

2. The following penalties will apply for subsequent violations of this

chapter:

a. A fine not exceeding $100.00 for the first violation 30 days after the

first warning.

b. A fine not exceeding $200.00 for the second violation 60 days after

the first warning.

c. If not in compliance 90 days after the first warning, the establishment

may be scheduled for a business license revocation hearing with the

Planning Commission in accordance with CMC 5.12.040. (Ord. 2012-

04 (Exh. A), 2012).

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Rob Mullane

From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments:

HI Rob,

Brad Hunt {brad@saveourshores.org] Thursday, February 20, 2014 5:03PM Rob Mullane Laura Kasa SOS Carmel bag survey data Carmel Bag ban data_SOS_CCSA.pdf

Attachment B

RECEIVED

FEB 2 0 Z014 City or Carmel-by-the-Sea Planning & Building llept.

1 have attached our bag ban survey data for you to use for your staff report. We have found in cities/counties where there is a fee of 25 cents (Capitola/ Santa Cruz County) there has been a compliance of 84%-89% of reusable bag use or people opting not to take a bag at all bag.

We have also seen that possible inadequate education and outreach and follow up with businesses has resulted in inconsistencies in fees and types of bags provided to customers from store to store in some areas. Another issue we discovered with several ordinances is that there was no fee on the thicker 2.25 mil plastic bags, only a fee on paper, so the thicker plastic bags could be provided for free. We are recommending that all types of bags be treated equally and are charged the same minimum fee.

The intent of these ordinances is to change behavior and have consumers shift to truly reusable bags and not replace one bag with another be It paper or thicker plastic so charging a fee for one and not the other does not give us the desired result.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Brad Hunt Program Manager Save Our Shores Tel: 831.462.5660 X 5# Fax: 831.462.6070

Website I Facebook I Twitter

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Save Our Shores and the Central Coast Sanctuary Alliance Pre and Post bag ban ordinance data for the City of Carmel

Total#of #of #of Total I of shoppers

shoppers shoppers shoppers using using usinc using reusable

! paper plastk: single- bags or no Total #of Date Store Name Start time Duration bags bags use bags bag shoppers

8/28/2012 Nlelsons noon 1 hour 22 47 69 32 101

8/28/2012 Brunos noon 1 hour 3 71 80 0 80

8/28/2012 Carmel Plaza noon 1 hour 34 10 44 4 48

laub's country 8/28/2012 store noon 1 hour 10 1 11 1 12

Endless 8/28/2012 Carmel noon 1 hour 0 2 2 0 2

1/22/2013 Brunos 16:00 1 hour 31 0 31 25 56

1/22/2013 Nielsons 16:00 1hour 4 15 19 7 26

Intersection of Ocean and San

1/23/2013 Carlos 16:00 1 hour 53 13 66 7 73

1/25/2013 Brunos 12:00 1 hour 43 0 43 71 114

1/26/2013 Nielsons 13:30 1 hour 1 11 12 10 22

TOTALS before plastic ban 377 157 534

2/22/2013 Carmel Plaza* 12:30 1 hour 36 2 38 0 38

2/22/2013 Nielsons 17:10 1 hour 31 0 31 14 45

2/23/2013 Carmel Plaza 10:00 1 hour 30 1 31 0 31

2/24/2013 Brunos 10:00 1 hour 31 4 35 2 37

2/26/2013 Nlelsons 9 :30 1hour 10 10 14 24 -

RECEIVED

FEB 2 0 2014 City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Planning & Building Dept.

%of shoppers

using reusable

bags o r no bag Comments 32%

0%

8%

8%

0%

45%

27%

10%

62% 1 reusable bag

45% 1 reusable bag

29%

0%

All paper bags, no thick plastic; 11 No bag, 3

31% reusable bags.

0%

5%

58% -- --- ~-

)> .-+ .-+ Q) (") ~

3 CD ::::::1 .-+

OJ

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Save Our Shores and the Central Coast Sanctuary Alliance Pre and Post bag ban ordinance data for the City of Carmel

I 6/2/2013 Nielsons 9:00 1 hour 3 0 3 13 16

6/3/2013 Brunos 12:25 1 hour 84 0 84 47 131 1 hour

6/4/2013 Nielsons 12:30 19 0 19 12 31

6/4/2013 Brunos 17:40 1 hour 35 0 35 22 57

6/4/2013 Carmel Plaza 16:45 1 hour 46 0 46 6 52

The Club & 6/7/2013 Lloyd's 14:30 1 hour 13 0 13 0 13

Carmel 6/7/2013 Forecast 14:30 1 hour 0 21 21 1 22

TOTALS after plastic bas ban with no fee 366 131 497 - -

81%

36%

39%

39% 12%

0%

5%

26% - -

All paper bags, no thick plastic; There were 0

Reusable Bags All paper bags, no thick

plastic; 43 No bag, 4 reusable bass.

All paper bags, no thick plastic; There were 0

Reusable Bags All paper bags, no thick

plastic; 18 No bag, 4 reusable bags.

' I

2.25 mm plastic bags provided to customers

-- -- - -~-~- --

~ -Q) (") :::r 3 CD ::l -ro

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BILL NUMBER: SB 270 AMENDED BILL TEXT

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 6, 2014

INTRODUCED BY Senator Padilla

Senators Padilla, De Leon, and

Lara

FEBRUARY 14, 2013

An act to add Section 106.5 to the Labor Code, relating to employment. An act to add Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 42280) to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, relating to solid waste, and making an appropriation therefor.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 270, as amended, Padilla. Underground economy: enforcement actions. Solid waste: single-use carryout bags.

(1) Existing law, until 2020, requires an operator of a store, as defined, to establish an at-store recycling program that provides to customers the opportunity to return clean plastic carryout bags to that store.

This bill, as of July 1, 2015, would prohibit stores that have a specified amount of sales in dollars or retail floor space from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer, with specified exceptions. The bill would also prohibit a store from selling or distributing a recycled paper bag at the point of sale unless the store makes that bag available for purchase for not less than $0.10. The bill would also allow such a store, on or after July 1, 2015, to distribute compostable bags at the point of sale only in jurisdictions that meet specified requirements and at a cost of not less than $0.10. The bill would require these stores to meet other specified requirements on and after July 1, 2015, regarding providing reusable grocery bags to customers, including distributing those

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Attachment C

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bags only at a cost of not less than $0.10. The bill, on and after July 1, 2016, would additionally impose

these prohibitions and requirements on convenience food stores, foodmarts, and entities engaged in the sale of a limited line of goods, or goods intended to be consumed off premises, and that hold a specified license with regard to alcoholic beverages.

The bill would allow a retail establishment to voluntarily comply with these requirements, if the retail establishment notifies the department and pays a registration fee established by the department.

The bill would require the operator of a store that has a specified amount of sales in dollars or retail floor space, in addition to complying with existing requirements, to establish an at-store recycling program that provides an opportunity for customers to return to the store clean polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate bags, including requiring those bags that are provided by the store to display a specified notice and providing for the placement of collection bins in a specified manner.

The bill would require certain stores selling a reusable grocery bag on and after July 1, 2015, to a customer at the point of sale to meet specified requirements with regard to the bag's durability, material, labeling, heavy metal content, and, with regard to reusable grocery bags made from plastic on and after January 1, 2016, recycled material content. The bill would impose these requirements as of July 1, 2016, on the stores that are otherwise subject to the bill's requirements.

The bill would prohibit a producer of reusable grocery bags made from specified plastics from selling or distributing those bags on and after January 1, 2016, unless the producer is certified by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. The bill would require the application for certification to include specified information that verifies the incorporation of clean postconsumer recycled material. The bill would also authorize a supplier of postconsumer recycled material to a producer of those bags to apply to the department for certification as a supplier of material. The bill would specify a procedure for a person to submit a written request to the department objecting to approval of a certification and for the holding of a hearing regarding that approval.

The department would be authorized to suspend or revoke a certification under specified circumstances and would be required to

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publish on its Internet Web site a list of certified reusable grocery bag producers and suppliers and reusable grocery bags that comply with the requirements of the bill. The bill would require the department to establish a certification fee schedule to cover the department's costs to implement these requirements, which a reusable grocery bag producer or supplier applying for certification would be required to pay. The bill would also require a reusable grocery bag producer to submit specified laboratory test results to the department.

A violation of these requirements would be subject to an administrative civil penalty assessed by the department. The department would be required to deposit these penalties into the Reusable Bag Account, which would be created in the Integrated Waste Management Fund, for expenditure by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement those requirements.

The bill would allow a city, county, or city and county, or the state to impose civil penalties for a violation of the bill's requirements, except as specified. The bill would require these civil penalties to be paid to the office of the city attorney, city prosecutor, district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought the action, and would allow the penalties collected by the Attorney General to be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to enforce the bill's provisions. The bill would provide that these remedies are not exclusive, as specified.

The bill would declare that it occupies the whole field of the regulation of reusable grocery bags, single-use carryout bags, and recycled paper bags and would prohibit a local public agency from enforcing or implementing an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule adopted on or after September 1, 2014, relating to those bags, against a store unless expressly authorized. The bill would allow a local public agency that has adopted such an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule prior to September 1, 2014, to continue to enforce and implement that ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule, and would preempt any amendments to that ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule, except that the bill would allow a local public agency to adopt or amend an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule setting a price for a recycled paper bag, compostable bag, or reusable grocery bag.

(2) The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 creates

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the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount in the Integrated Waste Management Account and continuously appropriates the funds deposited in the subaccount to the department for making loans for the purposes of the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Program. Existing law makes the provisions regarding the loan program, the creation of the subaccount, and expenditures therefrom inoperative on July 1, 2021, and repeals them as of January 1, 2022.

This bill would appropriate $2,000,000 from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount in the Integrated Waste Management Account to the department for the purposes of providing loans and grants for the creation and retention of jobs and economic activity in California for the manufacture and recycling of plastic reusable grocery bags that use recycled content. The bill would require a recipient of a grant to agree, as a condition of receiving a grant, to take specified actions.

Existing law establishes the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy to combat tax violations and cash pay employment and to report to the Legislature on the underground economy by June 30 of each year. The Department of Industrial Relations established the Labor Enforcement Task Force to help to eliminate the underground economy by ensuring that employers do not violate wage, hour, and safety laws by illegally hiring workers.

This bill would require, to the extent feasible, agencies participating in either of these groups to coordinate their law enforcement activities and to mcchange information between them regarding these activities.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: --ne- yes . Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 42280) is added to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code , to read:

CHAPTER 5.3. SINGLE-USE CARRYOUT BAGS

Article 1. Definitions

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42280. (a) "Department" means the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

(b) "Postconsumer recycled material" means a material that would otherwise be destined for solid waste disposal, having completed its intended end use and product life cycle. Postconsumer recycled material does not include materials and byproducts generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing and fabrication process.

(c) "Recycled paper bag" means a paper carryout bag provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale that meets all of the following requirements:

(1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), contains a minimum of 40 percent postconsumer recycled materials.

(B) An eight pound or smaller recycled paper bag shall contain a minimum of20 percent postconsumer recycled material.

(2) Is accepted for recycling in curbside programs in a majority of households that have access to curbside recycling programs in the state.

(3) Has printed on the bag the name of the manufacturer, the country where the bag was manufactured, and the minimum percentage of postconsumer content.

(d) "Reusable grocery bag" means a bag that is provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale that meets the requirements of Section 42281.

(e) (1) "Reusable grocery bag producer" means a person or entity that does any of the following:

(A) Manufactures reusable grocery bags for sale or distribution to a store.

(B) Imports reusable grocery bags into this state, for sale or distribution to a store.

(C) Sells or distributes reusable bags to a store. (2) "Reusable grocery bag producer" does not include a store, with

regard to a reusable grocery bag for which there is a manufacturer or importer, as specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).

(f) (1) "Single-use carryout bag" means a bag made of plastic, paper, or other material that is provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale and that is not a recycled paper bag or a reusable grocery bag that meets the requirements of Section 42281.

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(2) A single-use carryout bag does not include either of the following:

(A) A bag provided by a pharmacy pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code to a customer purchasing a prescription medication.

(B) A nonhandled bag used to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items when placed in a recycled paper bag, a reusable grocery bag, or a compostable plastic bag.

(g) "Store" means a retail establishment that meets any of the following requirements:

(1) A full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000) or more that sells a line of dry groceries, canned goods, or nonfood items, and some perishable items.

(2) Has at least 10,000 square feet of retail space that generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) and has a pharmacy licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(3) Is a convenience food store, foodmart, or other entity that is engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods, generally including milk, bread, soda, and snack foods, and that holds a Type 20 or Type 21license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

( 4) Is a convenience food store, food mart, or other entity that is engaged in the retail sale of goods intended to be consumed off the premises, and that holds a Type 20 or Type 21license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

(5) Is not otherwise subject to paragraph (1), (2), (3), or ( 4), if the retail establishment voluntarily agrees to comply with the requirements imposed upon a store pursuant to this chapter, notifies the department of its intent to comply with the requirements imposed upon a store pursuant to this chapter, and pays the registration fee that may be established pursuant to Section 42284.

Article 2. Reusable Grocery Bags

42281. (a) On and after July 1, 2015, a store, as defined in

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paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280, may sell or distribute a reusable grocery bag to a customer at the point of sale only if the reusable bag meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Has a handle and is designed for at least 125 uses. A bag satisfies this minimum use requirement if the bag is capable of carrying two full, one gallon milk jugs for 125 uses and meets either of the following requirements:

(A) If the bag is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate, the bag has a minimum thickness of at least 2.25 mils.

(B) If the bag is made of a woven or nonwoven polymer or fiber, the bag has a minimum fabric weight of at least 80 grams per square meter.

(2) Has a volume capacity of at least 15 liters. (3) Is machine washable or made from a material that can be

cleaned and disinfected. ( 4) Has printed on the bag, or on a tag attached to the bag that

is not intended to be removed, and in a manner visible to the consumer, all of the following information:

(A) The name of the manufacturer. (B) The country where the bag was manufactured. (C) A statement that the bag is a reusable bag and designed for at

least 125 uses. (D) Instructions to return the bag to the store for recycling or

to another appropriate recycling location, if applicable. (5) Does not contain lead, cadmium, or any other heavy metal in

toxic amounts. This requirement shall not affect any authority of the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to Article 14 (commencing with Section 25251) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code and, notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 25257.1 ofthe Health and Safety Code, the reusable grocery bag shall not be considered as a product category already regulated or subject to regulation.

(6) Complies with Section 260.12 of Part 260 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations related to recyclable claims if the reusable grocery bag producer makes a claim that the reusable grocery bag is recyclable.

(b) In addition to the requirements in subdivision (a), a reusable grocery bag made from plastic, including sheet, woven, or nonwoven plastic, shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) On and after January 1, 2016, be made from a minimum of20

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percent postconsumer recycled material, (2) On and after January 1, 2020, be made from a minimum of 40

percent postconsumer recycled material. (3) All postconsumer recycled material shall be cleaned using

washing equipment specifically designed for that purpose. ( 4) In addition to the information required to be printed on the

bag or on a tag, pursuant to paragraph ( 4) of subdivision (a), a statement that the bag is made partly or wholly from postconsumer material, as applicable, as well as stating the percentage.

(c) A plastic reusable grocery bag that also meets the specifications of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics 06400, as published in September 2004, is not required to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b), but shall be labeled in accordance with the applicable state law regarding compostable plastics.

(d) On and after July 1, 2016, a store as defined in paragraph (3) or ( 4) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280, shall comply with the requirements of this section.

42281.5. (a) On and after January 1, 2016, a producer of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate reusable grocery bags shall not sell or distribute a reusable grocery bag in this state unless the producer is certified by the department pursuant to this section. Certification shall require that the reusable grocery bags sold by the producer comply with the requirements of Section 42281. The application for certification submitted by the producer shall verify the incorporation of cleaned postconsumer recycled material into bags, as required by paragraphs (1 ), (2), and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 42281, and shall include all of the following:

(1) Names, locations, and contact information of all sources and suppliers of postconsumer recycled material. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the supplier shall be certified by the department as a post-consumer recycled material supplier pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2) Quantity and dates of postconsumer recycled material purchases by the reusable bag producer.

(3) Any other information that the department may require to enable verification of the information provided in the application.

(b) A supplier of material to a producer of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate reusable grocery bags

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may apply to the department for certification as a supplier of material. The application for certification shall verify the methods of collecting and processing the postconsumer recycled material, including all of the following:

(1) How the postconsumer material is obtained. (2) Washing equipment, including the name of the maker, model,

description, photographs, and exact locations of the equipment. (3) Any other information that the department may require to

enable verification of the information provided in the application. (c) If a reusable grocery bag producer obtains postconsumer

recycled material without an intermediate supplier, the reusable grocery bag producer is not required to provide, in its application, the information regarding the certification of a supplier pursuant to subdivision (b), but shall provide the department with the same information otherwise required under paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (b).

(d) The department shall provide a system to submit applications for certification online.

(e) The department shall post on its Internet Web site 90 days written notice of its intention to approve or disapprove a certification application submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), including its proposed decision, and shall invite public comments. The notice shall include copies of all documents submitted in support of the application, with pricing information removed. The department may respond to any public comments submitted in writing. The department shall issue a written ruling on the application, stating its reasons and fully explaining its responses to any objections.

(f) (1) A person may object to a proposed approval of a certification on the grounds that the application for certification of the reusable grocery bag producer or supplier did not comply with the requirements imposed pursuant to this section, including the verification of postconsumer recycled material, by submitting a written request to the department.

(2) Upon receiving a written request pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall hold a public hearing before approving the application.

(3) After holding a hearing pursuant to paragraph (2), the department shall issue a written ruling on the application, stating its reasons and fully explaining its response to any objections in the written request.

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( 4) A person objecting to the department's approval of certification, following a hearing conducted pursuant to paragraph (2), may file an action for review of that approval in the superior court of Sacramento County within 90 days of the ruling. The court shall make its own independent findings on whether the department, in approving the application for certification, obtained verified evidence of postconsumer material, and may consider evidence that was not submitted to the department.

(g) The department may suspend or revoke a certification of a reusable grocery bag producer or supplier upon 90 days written notice if the department receives a complaint supported by substantial and credible evidence that the reusable grocery bags distributed by the producer do not comply with the requirements of Section 42281 or that the supplier is not in compliance with the information supplied in the application for certification.

(h) On and after January 1, 2016, the department shall publish a list on its Internet Web site that includes all of the following:

(1) The name, location, and contact information of all certified reusable grocery bag producers and all certified post-consumer recycled material suppliers.

(2) The reusable grocery bags distributed by a reusable grocery bag producer certified by the department.

42282. (a) Upon request by the department, a reusable grocery bag producer shall submit laboratory test results from independent, accredited (ISO /IEC 17025) laboratories to the department confirming that the reusable grocery bag meets the requirements of Section 42281 for each type of reusable grocery bag that is manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in the state and provided to a store for sale or distribution.

(b) The department may test any reusable grocery bag manufactured by a reusable grocery bag producer and provided to a store for sale or distribution for compliance with this article and the regulations adopted pursuant to this article.

(c) The department may inspect and audit a certified reusable grocery bag producer subject to this article to ensure continuing compliance with Section 42281. All costs associated with the audit shall be paid by the reusable grocery bag producer.

(d) The department may enter into an agreement with other state entities that conduct inspections to provide necessary enforcement of this article.

42282.1. (a) A reusable grocery bag producer or supplier shall

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submit the fee established pursuant to subdivision (b) to the department when making an application for certification.

(b) The department shall establish a certification fee schedule that will generate fee revenues sufficient to cover, but not exceed, the department's reasonable costs to implement and enforce this article. The department may expend the fees collected pursuant to this section, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to carry out this article.

42282.2. (a) Notwithstanding Section 42285, a violation of this article shall be subject to an administrative civil penalty assessed by the department in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation. A subsequent violation is subject to a penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500) per prior violation, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation.

(b) On and after January 1, 2016, a store in violation of Section 42281 shall remove from the point of sale any reusable grocery bags made from polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate that were not distributed or sold by a certified reusable grocery bag producer pursuant to Section 42282 within seven days after the store receives notification of the violation.

42282.3. The department shall deposit all penalties collected pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 42282.1 for a violation of this article into the Reusable Bag Account, which is hereby created in the Integrated Waste Management Fund. The moneys in the Reusable Bag Account shall be expended by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to assist the department with its costs of implementing this article.

Article 3. Single-Use Carryout Bags

42283. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (d) and (e), on and after July 1, 2015, a store, as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280, shall not provide a single-use carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale.

(b) (1) On and after July 1, 2 015, a store shall not sell or distribute a reusable grocery bag at the point of sale except as provided in this subdivision.

(2) On and after July 1, 2015, a store may make available for purchase at the point of sale a reusable grocery bag that meets the requirements of Section 42281.

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(3) On and after July 1, 2015, a store that makes reusable grocery bags available for purchase pursuant to paragraph (2) shall not sell the reusable grocery bag for less than ten cents ($0.10) in order to ensure that the cost of providing a reusable grocery bag is not subsidized by a customer who does not require that bag.

(c) (1) On and after July 1, 2015, a store shall not sell or distribute a recycled paper bag except as provided in this subdivision.

(2) A store may make available for purchase a recycled paper bag. On and after July 1, 2015, the store shall not sell a recycled paper bag for less than ten cents ($0.10) in order to ensure that the cost of providing a recycled paper bag is not subsidized by a consumer who does not require that bag.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, on and after July 1, 2015, a store that makes reusable grocery bags or recycled paper bags available for purchase at the point of sale sha11 provide a customer participating in the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 123275) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code and a customer participating in the Supplemental Food Program pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 15500) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code with a reusable grocery bag or a recycled paper bag at no cost at the point of sale.

(e) On and after July 1, 2015, a store may distribute a compostable bag at the point of sale, if the compostable bag is provided to the consumer at the cost specified pursuant to paragraph (2), the compostable bag, at a minimum, meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics D6400, and in the jurisdiction where the compostable bag is sold and in the jurisdiction where the store is located, both of the following requirements are met:

(1) A majority of the residential households in the jurisdiction have access to curbside collection of food waste for com posting.

(2) The governing authority for the jurisdiction has voted to allow stores in the jurisdiction to sell to a consumers at the point of sale a compostable bag at a cost not less than the actual cost of the bag, which the Legislature hereby finds to be not less than ten cents ($0.10) per bag.

(f) A store shall not require a customer to use, purchase, or accept a single-use carryout bag, recycled paper bag, compostable

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bag, or reusable grocery bag as a condition of sale of any product. 42283.5. On and after July 1, 2016, a store, as defined in

paragraph (3) or ( 4) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280, shall comply with the same requirements of Section 42283 that are imposed upon a store, as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 42880.

42283.6. The operator of a store, as defined in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280 shall, in addition to complying with the requirements of Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 42250), establish an at-store recycling program that provides an opportunity for customers to return to the store a clean polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate bag, including, but not limited to, a single-use carryout bag or a reusable grocery bag. The at-store recycling program shall include all of the following:

(a) Any polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate bag provided by the store shall have printed or displayed on the bag or on a tag, in a manner visible to a consumer, and in compliance with Section 42281, the words "PLEASE RETURN TO A PARTICIPATING STORE FOR RECYCLING."

(b) A collection bin shall be placed at each store and shall be visible, easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked that the collection bin is available for the purpose of collecting and recycling a polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate bag.

(c) All polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate bags collected by the store pursuant to this section shall be collected, transported, and recycled in a manner that does not conflict with the local jurisdiction's source reduction and recycling element, pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 41000) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 41300) of Part 2.

(d) A retail establishment that elects to comply with this chapter pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280 shall establish an at-store recycling program in accordance with this section.

42284. The department may establish a registration fee to be paid by a retail establishment that elects to comply with the requirements imposed pursuant to this chapter upon a store pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (g) of Section 42280. The department shall set the amount of the fee in an amount that covers the costs to the department to regulate the fee payer's compliance with this

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chapter. The department may expend the fees pursuant to this section, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to carry out that regulatory authority.

Article 4. Enforcement

42285. (a) Except as provided in Section 42282.2, a city, a county, a city and county, or the state may impose civil liability in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation of this chapter, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second violation, and two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the third and subsequent violations.

(b) Any civil penalties collected pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be paid to the office of the city attorney, city prosecutor, district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought the action. The penalties collected pursuant to this section by the Attorney General may be expended by the Attorney General, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to enforce this chapter.

(c) The remedies provided by this section shall not be exclusive and shall be in addition to the remedies that may be available pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.

Article 5. Preemption

42287. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), this chapter is a matter of statewide interest and concern and is applicable uniformly throughout the state. Accordingly, this chapter occupies the whole field of regulation of reusable grocery bags, single-use carryout bags, and recycled paper bags, as defined in this chapter.

(b) On and after January 1, 2015, a city, county, or other local public agency shall not enforce, or otherwise implement, an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule adopted on or after September 1, 2014, relating to reusable grocery bags, single-use carryout bags, or recycled paper bags, against a store, as defined in this chapter, unless expressly authorized by this

chapter. (c) A city, county, or other local public agency that has adopted,

prior to September 1, 2014, an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or

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rule relating to reusable grocery bags, single-use carryout bags, or recycled paper bags may continue to enforce and implement that ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule that was in effect before that date. Any amendments to that ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule on or after January 1, 2015, shall be subject to subdivision (b), except any city, county, or other local public agency may adopt or amend an ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule with regard to the amount that a store shall charge with regard to a recycled paper bag, compostable bag, or reusable grocery bag.

Article 6. Financial Provisions

42288. (a) Notwithstanding Section 42023.2, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Subaccount in the Integrated Waste Management Account to the department for the purposes of providing loans and grants for the creation and retention of jobs and economic activity in this state for the manufacture and recycling of plastic reusable grocery bags that use recycled content, including postconsumer recycled material.

(b) The department shall expend the funds appropriated pursuant to this section to provide loans and grants for both of the following:

(1) Development and conversion of machinery and facilities for the manufacture of single-use plastic bags into machinery and facilities for the manufacturer of durable reusable grocery bags that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

(2) Development of equipment for the manufacture of reusable grocery bags, that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

(c) A recipient of a grant authorized by this section shall agree, as a condition of receiving a grant, to retain and retrain existing employees for the manufacturing of reusable grocery bags that, at a minimum, meet the requirements of Section 42281.

SECTION 1. Section 106.5 is added to the Labor Code, to read:

106.5. Agencies participating in the Joint Enforcement Strike force, established pursuant to Section 329 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the Labor Enforcement Task force, established by the department, shall, to the degree feasible, coordinate their law

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enforcement activities and shall exchange information to better facilitate thmr law enforcement activities.

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Attachment D

MONTEREY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Ray Blll lick. Dire~tor

ANIMAL SERVICES EMERGENCY •11EDICAL SERVICES PUBliC HEALTH BcltAVIORAL HEALTii ENVIRONMENTAL HEAL"TH PU6U;:; ADMINISTRATOR PUBliC GUARDIAN CliNIC SERVICES

April8, 2014 (for immediate release)

TO: All City Managers and Planning Directors

FROM: John Ramirez, Director, Environmental Health Bureau

RE: Survey of Local Interest in Plastic Bag Ban Ordinances

RECEiVED

APk 0 S 2U14 CJty or Ct:Jtmet·b,·· the-Seo Ptonr.nq e: Bull< ling D&pt

On March 18, 2014, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey directed staff to move forward with the preparation of a reusable bag ordinance for the Board's future consideration and to investigate reliance upon a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if warranted by the evidence. The Board of Supervisors expressed strong support for collaboration with the cities within Monterey County who are considering adoption of a similar ban on plastic bags and authorized County to offer support to cities who express interest. Accordingly, we are writing each city in Monterey County that has not already adopted a plastic bag ban to inquire whether city staff desires to collaborate in the development of these ordinances.

BACKGROUND

Last year, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors directed staff to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that would analyze both a proposed draft County reusable bag ordinance as well as similar proposed ordinances by cities within Monterey County. Due to recent court cases upholding a categorical exemption for ordinances that banned single use carry out plastic bags and due to pending state legislation (SB270) that would preempt local ordinances adopted on or after September 1, 2014, County staff returned to the Board of Supervisors on March 18,2014 to obtain additional direction as to how to best proceed. Staff presented the Board with various options, including drafting an ordinance for the Board's consideration prior to September 1, 2014 that would rely upon a categorical exemption if appropriate.

The Board of Supervisors directed County staff to prepare an ordinance that would ban single-use canyout plastic bags by certain categories of retail establishments and that would include a I 0 cent charge on recyclable paper bags, and the Board directed staff to investigate whether reliance upon a categorical exemption under CEQA would be appropriate. The Board directed staff to work with cities in an effort to bring forward similar ordinances to the decision-making bodies of the cities and the County and to provide support to participating cities by making available assistance from an environmental consultant contracted by the County for the compilation of evidence and preparation of findings in support of a categorical exemption under CEQA, if warranted by the evidence. The County and each city would adopt ordinances with independent CEQA review. While it is recognized that each city would independently decide whether to have the same or different charge for recyclable

1270 Natividad Rd. Salinas CA 93906, Phone (831) 755-4508

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letter lo Cities Local Interest in Plastic Bag Ban Ordinances

April8,2014

paper bags, the Board expressed a goal of similar charges for paper bags being adopted across the county to the extent possible.

REQUEST TO CITIES As a follow up to our recent direction from the Board, the County Environmental Health Bureau is requesting input from each city regarding its potential interest in collaboration on ordinances regulating plastic bags. The County of Monterey intends to contract with an environmental consultant to gather evidence and, if warranted, prepare findings for a categorical exemption. We are offering to provide support to participating cities by sharing information and assistance from the environmental consultant.

If city staff would like to collaborate with County staff, please let us know by May 6, as County staff is moving forward with preparation of the ordinance and contracting with the consultant with the aim of presenting an ordinance to the Board of Supervisors prior to September 1, 2014. There will be no obligation for participating cities to reimburse the County; however, the County will provide a summary of cost to each city for the amount of service provided by the consultant based on the tasks described in the contract.

We will once again be calling each city to explore your city's interest in collaborating with the County. It is understood that in many cases each city council has not yet considered the issue or provided any formal guidance to city staff. However any level of feedback provided to us by May 6th or sooner would be greatly appreciated.

We will be following up with phone calls or you may contact Mark Dias by phone at 755-4617 or via email at diasmr@co.monterey.caus

Sincerely,

John Ramirez, MP A, REHS Director, Environmental Health Bureau

cc Ray Bullick, Director, Health Department

2 1270 Natividad Rd. Salinas CA 93906, Phone (831) 755-4508