Chapter 5-7 — SINGLE-USE CARRYOUT BAGS

For the purposes of this chapter only, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings defined in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a)

"Carryout bag" means any bag, including a plastic bag, provided at the check stand, cash register, point of sale or other point of departure for the purpose of transporting food, merchandise, or other goods out of a retail establishment or a public eating establishment. Carryout bags do not include produce bags or product bags.

(b)

"Customer" means any person purchasing goods from a retail establishment or a public eating establishment.

(c)

"Inspector" means an individual designated by the city manager to conduct any inspections required or permitted under this chapter.

(d)

"Operator" means the person in control of, or having the responsibility for, the operation of a retail establishment or public eating establishment, which may include, but is not limited to, the owner of a retail establishment or a public eating establishment.

(e)

"Person" means any natural person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization or group however organized.

(f)

"Plastic bag" means any bag made predominantly of plastic derived from either petroleum, ethylene derived from natural gas, or a biologically-based source, such as corn or other plant sources. The term "plastic bag" includes compostable and biodegradable bags but does not include reusable bags, recycled paper carryout bags, produce bags, or product bags.

(g)

"Postconsumer recycled material" means a material that would otherwise be destined for solid waste disposal, having completed its intended end use and product life cycle. Postconsumer recycled material does not include materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing and fabrication process.

(h)

"Prepared food" means foods or beverages which are prepared on premises by cooking, chopping, slicing, mixing, freezing, or squeezing, and which require no further preparation to be consumed, other than

heating. Prepared food does not include any raw, uncooked meat product or fruits or vegetables which are chopped, squeezed or mixed.

(i)

"Produce bag" means any bag without handles used exclusively to carry produce, meats, or other food items to the point of sale inside a retail establishment or to prevent such food items from coming into direct contact with other purchased items.

(j)

"Product Bag" means a bag integrated into the packaging of the product or a bag used (1) to hold prescription medication dispensed from a pharmacy; or (2) to segregate food or merchandise that could damage or contaminate other food or merchandise when placed together in a reusable bag or recycled paper carryout bag (examples include small paper bag for greeting cards, paper bags to protect glass bottles, plastic bags around ice cream or other wet items, paper bags used to weigh candy, etc.).

(k)

"Public eating establishment" means a restaurant, take-out food establishment, or any other business that receives 90 percent or more of its revenue from the sale of prepared food to be eaten on or off its premises.

(l)

"Recyclable" means material that can be sorted, cleansed, and reconstituted using available recycling collection programs for the purposes of using the altered form in the manufacture of a new product. Recycling does not include burning, incinerating, converting, or otherwise thermally destroying solid waste.

(m)

"Recycled paper carryout bag" means a paper bag that meets all of the following requirements: (1) contains no old growth fiber, (2) is 100 percent recyclable overall and contains a minimum of 40 percent postconsumer recycled material; (3) displays the word "recyclable": In a highly visible manner on the outside of the bag; and (4) and displays the percentage of postconsumer recycled material used. Recycled paper carryout bags do not include produce bags or product bags.

(n)

"Retail establishment" means any commercial establishment that sells perishable or nonperishable goods including, but not limited to, clothing, food, and personal items directly to a customer; and is located within or doing business within the geographical limits of the City of Lafayette.

(o)

"Reusable bag" means a bag with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and meets all the following requirements: (1) has a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, which for purposes of this subsection, means the capability of carrying a minimum of 22 pounds 125 times over a distance of at least 175 feet; (2) is machine washable or capable of being cleaned and disinfected; (3) does not contain lead,

cadmium, or any other heavy metal in toxic amounts as defined by applicable state and federal standards and regulations for packaging or reusable bags; and (4) if made of plastic, a minimum of 2.25 mils thick.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

No retail establishment or public eating establishment shall provide any carryout bag to a customer except as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

All retail establishments or public eating establishments shall provide or make available to a customer only recycled paper carryout bags or reusable bags for the purpose of carrying away goods or other materials from the point of sale, subject to the terms of this ordinance. Nothing in this chapter prohibits customers from using bags of any type that they bring to the retail establishment or public eating establishment themselves or from carrying away goods that are not placed in a bag.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

(a)

Any retail establishment that provides a recycled paper carryout bag to a customer must charge the customer for each bag provided, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(b)

Businesses not regulated under California Senate Bill 270 may elect to not collect the minimum charge. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Council may impose a mandatory charge for businesses not regulated under California Senate Bill 270, after a duly noticed public hearing.

(c)

The minimum charge per recycled paper carryout bag will initially be $0.10. The city council may increase the minimum charge, after a duly noticed public hearing.

(d)

All collected monies will be retained by the retail establishment.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

(a)

All retail establishments must make reusable bags available to customers for purchase. Exemptions will be made for sanctioned reusable bag giveaway events that are intended to promote the use of reusable bags not exceeding a total of 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period.

(b)

Each retail establishment is strongly encouraged to educate its staff to promote reusable bags and to post signs encouraging customers to use reusable bags.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

An inspector shall have the right to enter any retail establishment or public eating establishment during regular business hours, without a search or inspection warrant, to make reasonable inspection to ascertain whether there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)

(a)

Those individuals specified in Title 1, Chapter 7 of this code are authorized to promulgate regulations and to take any and all other actions reasonable and necessary to enforce this chapter, including, but not limited to, investigating violations, issuing citations, and entering the premises of any retail establishment or public eating establishment during business hours. Other city staff may assist with this enforcement responsibility by entering the premises of a retail establishment or public eating establishment as part of their regular inspection functions and reporting any alleged violations to the city manager or his/her designee.

(b)

If any of those individuals specified above determine that a violation of this chapter has occurred, he/she will issue a written warning notice to the operator of the retail establishment or public eating establishment that a violation has occurred and the potential penalties that will apply for future violations.

(c)

Any retail establishment or public eating establishment that violates or fails to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter after a written notice has been issued for a previous violation shall be guilty of an infraction punishable as specified in Title 1 of this code.

(Ord. No. 626, § 4(exh. A), 12-8-2014)