Reusable Bag Ordinance Amendment

In March 2013, the Los Altos City Council adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance prohibiting the distribution of single-use plastic bags and requiring a minimum charge for the distribution of reusable or recyclable bags. 

It has been determined by several neighboring jurisdictions, as well as the City of Los Altos, that the current minimum charge of $0.10 per reusable bag has proven sufficient to change shoppers’ behaviors and is adequately serving its intended purposes of reducing litter and waste.

Thus, the City of Los Altos has amended the Reusable Bag Ordinance to eliminate the automatic increase in bag costs to $0.25. Therefore, per Ordinance No. 2014-404, the required minimum cost per reusable bag shall remain at $0.10 in the City of Los Altos.

Background - Senate Bill 270

Senate Bill 270 (SB 270) was approved by the California Assembly and Senate in August 2014 and was signed by the Governor in September 2014. As of January 2015, SB 270 requires many stores to only provide reusable or recyclable paper bags for a minimum charge of $0.10, with no provision to escalate the fee over time. While SB 270 provided exemptions for cities like Los Altos that had an existing single-use bag ordinance in effect, it recommended the price increase to $0.25 be eliminated so Los Altos merchants would not be required to charge more for bags than neighboring jurisdictions.

Ordinance Provisions

The Ordinance applies to any retail establishment selling perishable or non-perishable food, goods, clothing, or personal items directly to the consumer. Retailers that are exempt from the ordinance include restaurants, non-profit thrift stores, and establishments providing a service (e.g. dry cleaners and newspaper home delivery). City staff will continue to enforce the Ordinance on a complaint basis. To view the full Ordinance, click here.

For more information regarding the Reusable Bag Ordinance, call (650) 947-2610 or click here.