culvercity.patch.com
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The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.
Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.
“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”
The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.
While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.
When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.
During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.
Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.
“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”
Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.
“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”
Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.
“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”
Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.
“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”
The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.
As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.
“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.
The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.
Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.
“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”
The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.
While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.
When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.
During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.
Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.
“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”
Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.
“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”
Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.
“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”
Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.
“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”
The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.
As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.
“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.
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addthis:title="Council Passes Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban in Culver City"
addthis:description="
The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.
Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.
“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”
The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.
While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.
When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.
During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.
Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.
“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”
Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.
“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”
Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.
“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”
Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.
“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”
The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.
As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.
“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.
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![[photo]](http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/74dfd1c7621d939751e716a295acae06 "[photo]")
