Locals prepare for plastic bag ban

Following a Sept. 13 vote of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to outlaw plastic carryout bags and charge customers for paper bags, residents and businesses throughout the county are preparing for the March 20 enactment of those rules.
Under the ordinance, which affects only the unincorporated areas of the county, plastic grocery-style bags will be a thing of the past. In fact, businesses could be fined as much as $1,000 if they are found in violation of the ordinance.
Free paper bags will also be no more. Retailers will be required to charge 10 cents per paper bag throughout the first year before the rate increases to 25 cents permanently.
The only exceptions to the charge for paper bags will be takeout bags at restaurants, wine bottle bags, candy-weighing bags, pharmacy bags and greeting card bags.
The only plastic bags still allowed will be those used to contain loose produce, wrap meat and weigh bulk goods at grocery stores.
The idea, according to a county press release, is to promote and accelerate the use of reusable bags to ease the environmental strain of disposable bags. The ordinance was proposed by county Supervisor Mark Stone. Similar laws are in place throughout the state.
Retail outlets in the San Lorenzo Valley are getting ready for the ban by posting county-issued placards to alert customers to the changes and in some cases, as at Scarborough Lumber, working to phase out plastic bags beforehand to lessen the shock.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Morgan Scarborough, the owner of Scarborough Lumber. “In the long run, I think it’s going to be a good thing.”
Scarborough said that while he supports the law and thinks it is good for the environment, he predicts that many customers will be shocked the first time they have to pay a dime for a bag.
“I think it’s just going to take some getting used to,” he said. “It’s unfortunate we’re going to have to charge more for bags — especially in this economy.”
Reusable cloth bags have become popular in the past several years as scientific studies have shown that plastic bags as dangerous to marine life in the oceans.
Pat Verutti, owner of Verutti’s Felton Liquors, echoed Scarborough’s thoughts on the subject.
“(Changing) anything that’s been one way for decades is a big change,” he said. “But generally, I’m in favor of it.”
The full text of the ordinance is online at www.santacruzcountyrecycles.org.
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