Plastic Bag Ban Expands To All Retail Stores Countywide In May

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — Starting in May, shoppers in Alameda County will need to remember those reusable bags or pay for paper when they check out at any retail store. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority adopted the Reusable Bag Ordinance, which aims to reduce waste and plastic in all waterways. Buying a paper or reusable plastic bag will cost the consumer 10 cents or more.

“Since January 2013, grocery stores and convenience stores within the County have been covered by
the reusable bag law,” city officials said in a statement. “The overall impact has been significant, with a 44 percent decrease in plastic bags found in County storm drains, according to StopWaste.org. To build on this success, the law was expanded and on May 1, retail stores will be included in this effort and in November 2017, the single-use, plastic bag ban will also encompass restaurants and food trucks.”

Officials say the law does not apply to bags used to protect meat, produce and soups. Alameda County grocery stores have not been allowed to offer single-use plastic bags since 2013.

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