El Cerrito Considering Bans on Plastic Bags, Non-Compostable Food Containers

As part of a broader West Contra Costa County move by the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority known as Recycle More, El Cerrito is considering banning plastic bags.

In its latest newsletter, the City talks about regulating the distribution of single-use bags and single-use food containers. It invites residents and the business community to learn more and provide comments to the City on the two separate bans at an coming meeting on June 11.

Staff plans to make a presentation and answer questions at the environmental Quality Committee (eQC) meeting.

Back in 2011, El Cerrito became the fourth West Contra Costa County city to back the proposed regional ban on single-use carryout bags. It also made a push to get local food-service businesses to provide compostable take-out containers. The city's offered a limited number of cash grants as an incentive. Now, the City is considering banning plastic and polystyrene foodware since it claims they are commonly discarded.

If passed, it will join neighboring starting January 1, 2013.

Other folks in Contra Costa Country had the following to say about the potential blastic bag ban:

• No matter what you use, they become part of garbage. But the problem is that your own bags will carry bacteria and viruses often after one use. So there is a real health risk. More and more people voluntarily bring bags, but let's keep choice an option. After all, not everyone using our stores lives here.
• Not sure we need another law to enact a ban on plastic bags (time and money could be better utilized on other issues). Stores should take the initiative and just charge 10 cents per bag. Very soon you'll carry your own bags.
• I don't think plastic bags should be banned, although I'll bet those in the pulp and paper industry would be happy to see them gone.
• Plastic bags in produce sections should probably fall under the same regulation. This ban wouldn't be necessary if litterers would stop or if the police had the manpower and desire to enforce anti-litter laws.
• Now I will have to go out and purchase plastic bags to fill my undersink garbage can where as before I used the handy ones that I would get with the purchase of my groceries. Bummer. I wish "they" let "us" vote on it instead of those big smart gov't officials deciding for "us".

These comments were made on the following related articles:

The Conversation Continues: Ban Plastic Bags in Contra Costa?

Poll: Plastic Bag Ban In Contra Costa?

Lafayette Council to Hear Plastic Bag Ban Proposal

What do you think? Should El Cerrito and potentially Contra Costa County join Alameda County in banning pastic bags? What about a ban on non-compostable take-out containers?