Santa Monica Suspends Plastic Bag Ban Temporarily

SANTA MONICA, CA —A plastic bag ban was suspended temporarily in Santa Monica this week in part of the city's emergency order response to the coronavirus pandemic, city officials announced.

The city announced Friday a new emergency order that suspends the bag ban for now, limits construction noise, extends fire permits through July 1, and prevents landlords from collecting interest on rent.

The state of California lifted the statewide plastic bag ban with the Governor’s Executive Order, according to the city. Plastic bags were banned from retail locations in Santa Monica in 2011.

“These modifications to our local emergency come as we take the first visible steps toward recovery this week with some local businesses reopening,” said Interim City Manager Lane Dilg, the City’s Director of Emergency Services, in a news release.

“We continue to take every step we can to address the needs of our residents and local businesses in this public health emergency," Dilg said. "We appreciate the ongoing efforts of our residents to remain vigilant as Stay at Home / Safer at Home orders begin to safely and carefully lift.”

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