San Francisco 2005 Bag Fee Resolution


Archived: March 2007

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2005 Bag Fee Resolution Summary

Below is a summary of San Francisco's first attempt at addressing the plastic bag issue in 2005. Ultimately, the resolution did not pass because retailers were going to spearhead their own reduction plans. Unfortunately, that measure failed. Read below for details on the 2005 Bag Fee Resolution.

Why?
  • Plastic bags consume scarce resources and create pollution littering streets, beaches, trees and waterways.
  • Plastic bags are perceived as disposable and are an impediment to San Francisco's landfill diversion and "zero waste" goals.
  • Plastic bags are difficult to recycle or compost and contaminate current efforts underway.
  • Plastic bags account for 90% of the city's grocery sacks estimated 50 million plastic grocery bags used in San Francisco (According to other estimates the number is MUCH higher)
  • Governments around the world have successfully implemented similar initiatives to curb plastic bag use. Including Ireland's hugely successful PlasTax
  • San Francisco spends $8.5 million each year for plastic bag cleanup and related costs (17 cents per bag)
What/How?
  • $.17 (or other amount to be determined) charged to consumer on paper as well as plastic bags used at checkout.
  • Both paper and plastic bags checkout bags would be charged a fee since paper bags are no better.
  • Ordinance will include measures to assure low or fixed income and residences with large families are not adversely impacted.
  • Half of fee would go to Department of the Environment to support efforts of program such as discounted reusable checkout bags, compostable produce bags, in store recycling programs, education and out reach programs on waste prevention.
  • Resolution calls for independent studies will be conducted to determine economic impact on residents and further study the legality and appropriateness of a the fee
  • The fee would apply only to grocery stores that report more than $2 million in annual sales. In future fee may apply to smaller markets and other stores (e.g. drug stores)
  • If ordinance is adopted, it would not be implemented for 6 months in order to account for public educate.