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County meets on plastic bag ban

by Sandy Brundage and Palo Alto Weekly Staff

Local governments are taking steps this fall to turn a proposed ban on plastic bags into reality. The San Mateo County Planning Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, to provide feedback before the Board of Supervisors votes on the ordinance next month.

Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley and 22 other Peninsula town may join the county in restricting the use of single-use carryout bags, and San Mateo County has released an environmental impact report to explore the effects.

The ban targets single-use bags, except those used by restaurants and for produce, and would also implement a 10 cent fee for paper bags until Dec. 31, 2014, and then hike the fee to 25 cents per paper bag.

Go to tinyurl.com/8us3hle to review the environmental impact report. Comments on the environmental impact report were accepted until Monday, Sept. 10, but residents may also speak about the proposed ban during the Sept. 12 county Planning Commission meeting.

If the supervisors approve the ban, the Menlo Park City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance in January, according to staff. The city will host two informational meetings about the ordinance in mid-October and mid-December.

The county Planning Commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the supervisors' chamber at 400 County Center in Redwood City.