Salinas Municipal Code Art. XII Use of Single-Use Carryout Bags, Recycled Paper Bags, and Reusable Bags…

(a) The purpose of this chapter is to ban thin-film plastic single-use carryout bags and prohibit the free distribution of paper bags or reusable bags by certain types of retail establishments in the City of Salinas in order to reduce litter and protect the natural resources of Salinas.

(b) Pursuant to Article XI, section 7 of the California Constitution, the City of Salinas may adopt and enforce ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens.

(c) The use of single-use carryout bags by consumers at retail establishments is detrimental to the environment, public health and welfare.

(d) The manufacture and distribution of single-use carryout bags requires utilization of natural resources and results in the generation of greenhouse gas emissions.

(e) Single-use carryout bags contribute to environmental problems, including litter in storm drains, creeks, the Monterey Bay, and the ocean.

(f) Single-use carryout bags provided by retail establishments impose unseen costs on consumers, local governments, the state and taxpayers and constitute a public nuisance.

(g) Prohibiting retail establishments from using plastic single-use carryout bags and requiring a fee for paper bags reduces litter and benefits the environment by encouraging customers to use reusable bags.

(h) This council does, accordingly, find and declare that it should restrict single use carry-out bags and require a fee for recycled paper bags and reusable bags.

(i) This council does hereby find and declare that the proposed ordinance is categorically exempt from further environmental analysis per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308 because the goal of the ordinance is to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of the environment and natural resources within the City of Salinas.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)

This chapter applies in the City of Salinas city limits.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)

Unless otherwise expressly stated, whenever used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) "Customer" means any person obtaining goods from a retail establishment.

(b) "Chapter" means chapter 16 of the Salinas Municipal Code.

(c) "City" means the City of Salinas.

(d) "Director" means the Public Works Director of the City of Salinas or his/her designee.

(e) "Effective date" means the effective date of the ordinance enacting Article XII to Chapter 16.

(f) "Garment bag" means a travel bag made of pliable, durable material with or without a handle, designed to hang straight or fold double and used to carry suits, dresses, coats, or the like without crushing or wrinkling the same.

(g) "Mils" is the thickness of a material measured in increments of one-thousandth of an inch.

(h) "Nonprofit charitable reuser" is defined as a charitable organization which is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a distinct operating unit or division of the charitable organization, that reuses and recycles donated goods or materials and receives more than fifty percent of its revenues from the handling and sale of those donated goods or materials. Nonprofit charitable reusers are not considered retail establishments for the purpose of this article.

(i) "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, firm, association, organization, partnership (whether limited or general), corporation, limited liability corporation, political subdivision, government agency, municipality, industry, public or private corporation, trust, joint venture, regulatory authority, or any other entity.

(j) "Prepared food" means foods or beverages which are prepared on the premises by cooking, chopping, slicing, mixing, freezing, or squeezing, and which require no further preparation to be consumed. "Prepared food" does not include any raw, uncooked meat product or fruits or vegetables which are chopped, squeezed, or mixed.

(k).

"Public eating establishment" is defined as a restaurant, take-out food establishment, or any other business that receives ninety percent or more of its revenue from the sale of prepared food, which is prepared on the premises, to be eaten on or off its premises. Public eating establishments are not considered retail establishments for the purpose of this article.

(l) "Recycled paper bag" is defined as a bag that contains no old growth fiber and a minimum of forty percent post-consumer recycled content, is one hundred percent recyclable, and has printed in a highly visible manner on the outside of the bag the words "reusable" and "recyclable," the name and location of the manufacturer, and the percentage of post-consumer recycled content

(m) "Retail establishment" means any commercial establishment that sells perishable or nonperishable goods including, but not limited to, clothing, food, and personal items directly to the customer and that is located within or doing business within the City of Salinas. The term "retail establishment" includes farmers' markets. The term "retail establishment" does not include public eating establishments, nonprofit charitable reusers, and wholesale agricultural produce packing and shipping businesses.

(n) "Reusable bag" is defined as a bag with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured to be reused at least one hundred twenty-five times and that is either (1) made of cloth or other washable natural or synthetic fibers that can be cleaned and disinfected, or (2) made from plastic film that shall be at least four mils thick and capable of being cleaned and disinfected.

(o) "Single-use carryout bag" is defined as a bag, other than a reusable bag or recycled paper bag, provided at the check stand, cash register, point of sale, or other point of departure for the purpose of transporting food or merchandise out of the retail establishment. Single-use carryout bags do not include bags, a maximum of eleven inches by seventeen inches, without handles provided to the customer for the following purposes: (1) to transport produce, bulk food or meat from a product, bulk food or meat department within a store to the point of sale; (2) to transport produce, bulk food, or other items to the point of sale at a farmers' market; (3) to hold prescription medication dispensed from a pharmacy; (4) to segregate food or merchandise that could damage or contaminate other food or merchandise when placed together in a bag; or (5) a garment bag regardless of size.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)

(a) No retail establishment that sells perishable or nonperishable goods including, but not limited to, clothing, food, and personal items directly to the customer, shall provide a single-use carryout bag to a customer at the check stand, cash register, point of sale or other point of departure for the purpose of transporting food or merchandise out of the establishment, except as provided in this chapter.

(b) To allow retail establishments an opportunity to make necessary arrangements for compliance and to use remaining stocks of plastic single-use carryout bags, retail establishments shall have six months from the effective date to comply with the regulations of this Chapter. During this period, it shall be the policy of the city to encourage voluntary adherence to the requirements of this chapter.

(c) Six months from the effective date and thereafter, a retail establishment may make recycled paper bags or reusable bags available to customers only if the retail establishment charges ten cents. Only recycled paper bags and reusable bags as defined in this chapter may be made available for purchase.

(d) Notwithstanding this chapter, when a recycled paper bag or a reusable bag is distributed to the customer, the amount of the sale of the recycled paper bag or reusable bag shall be separately itemized on the sales receipt.

(e) These regulations do not apply to public eating establishments as defined herein.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a retail establishment may provide one or more recycled paper bags or reusable bags at no cost to the following individuals: a customer participating in the California Special Supplement Food Program, for women, infants, and children pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 123275) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the California Health and Safety Code; a customer participating in the Supplemental Food Program pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 15500) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code; and a customer participating in Calfresh pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)

All retail establishments shall keep complete and accurate records or documents of the purchase and sale of any recycled paper bag by the retail establishment. Such records shall be kept for a minimum period of one year from the date of purchase and sale, and such records shall be available for inspection by the city at no cost to the city during regular business hours. Unless the city and retail establishment mutually agree upon an alternative location or method of review, the records or documents shall be available at the retail establishment address. The provision of false information, including but not limited to incomplete records or documents to the city, shall be a violation of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)

(a) The director shall be primarily responsible for implementation and enforcement of this chapter. The director is authorized to establish guidelines and procedures to implement this chapter and to take such action as may be necessary, including inspection of retail establishments, to monitor compliance with this chapter.

(b) The remedies and the penalties provided in this article are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity.

(c) Violation of this article is a misdemeanor. Alternatively, and in the discretion of the city attorney, a violation of this article may be prosecuted administratively.

(d) In the event of a violation of this chapter or any requirement imposed pursuant to this chapter, the city attorney or his designee may in his discretion, in addition to all other remedies, take such enforcement action as is authorized under the Salinas Municipal Code and any other action authorized by law.

(e) If the city elects to utilize the administrative procedures set forth in chapter 1 of the Salinas Code to enforce this chapter, any enforcement officer of the city may issue an administrative citation for a violation of this article.

(Ord. No. 2550(NCS), § 1, 8-26-2014)