Menlo Park Considers Regulating Disposable Shopping Bags

The City of Menlo Park is considering a ban on shopping bags this summer, in an effort to encourage people to carry reusable bags. 

It is one of 24 cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties that are scrutinizing whether the regulation of single-use shopping bags would impact the amount of litter in the environment. One option being discussed would ban plastic bags entirely and make businesses charge ten cents a bag for each paper bag used.  Bags used to hold produce would be exempt from any new ordinance. 

"The average lifetime of a single-use plastic carryout bag is 12 minutes, but it can spend over a lifetime as pollution or in a landfill," according to Menlo Park's Environmental Programs Department. Californians use about 20 billion plastic bags each year. 

What that does to the environment is detailed in a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that was released on June 22.  You can find an online copy of it here.  To peruse it in person, visit the Community Development Resource desk at 701 Laurel Street in Menlo Park. 

On July 11, the San Mateo County Planning Commission will be presenting findings from the study during a public hearing that starts at 9 a.m. at 400 County Center, in Redwood City.  Members of the public can attend and give feedback that could be incorporated into the final report. 

On July 25, presenters will come to Menlo Park and conduct an informational meeting that starts at 6 p.m. in the Oak Room of the Arrillaga Recreation Center. It is located at 600 Alma Street. 

Comments on the Draft EIR that are made at the meeting in Redwood City will be recorded, while the ones made at the meeting in Menlo Park will not. 

Anyone who wants to give feedback on this report, can email their comments toenvhealth@smcgov.org.  San Mateo County Planning Commission will be accepting comments about the Draft EIR through 5 p.m. on August 6, 2012. 

Anyone who wants a free reusable shopping bag that is branded with the city logo can pick one up at the City Administration Building, located at 701 Laurel Street.

The full text of Menlo Park's new bag ban can be found here.