Feb 20 - Sac City Council Will Consider Plastic Bag Ordinance

At a meeting of the Sacramento City Council Legislative and Law subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 19, committee members agreed to move forward with drafting an ordinance on single use plastic bags.

At the meeting, and at a press event held earlier in the day with Council Members Steve Cohn and Kevin McCarty, representatives from CAW and Environment California spoke in favor of an ordinance that would reduce single use plastic bags.

In addition to the environmental impacts, single use bags cost millions in taxpayer dollars each year to remove from streets, storm water systems and waterways. Recycling isn’t a viable option, as only a small percentage of plastic bags are recycled each year.

Council Member Cohn will represent the committee as the ordinance is developed. He and Council Member McCarty are champions of the bag ordinance.

As the process moves forward, stakeholders including environmental groups, the California Grocers Association and others will be invited to provide input. Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, which spoke in opposition to an ordinance, will also be invited to participate.

It’s expected to take several months before the final ordinance is brought before the City Council for a vote.

Find out more about our Campaign to End Single Use Plastic Bags and other plastic litter.