Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect In Redwood City
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF)— Shoppers in Redwood City are adjusting to a ban on plastic bags that went into effect on Tuesday, a city spokeswoman said.
"We've only had positive feedback," Redwood City spokeswoman Sheri Costa-Batis said. "There seems to be a real sense that residents understand the environmental impact of plastic bags."
Plastic bags are no longer distributed by Redwood City grocery stores and retailers, and paper bags cost 10 cents each.
Restaurants are exempt from the ban, which does not apply to protective bags for produce, dry-cleaning and newspapers, according to the ordinance.
Free, reusable bags were being distributed by San Mateo County officials at two locations Tuesday morning -- Key Market on Florence Street and the Lucky supermarket on Woodside Road.
"The county is in great support of reusable bags, and I think residents are accustomed to using them," Costa-Batis said.
According to an environmental impact report prepared by San Mateo County, Redwood City residents use an estimated 42 million plastic bags each year, with only a small percentage being recycled.
More information for residents and business owners can be found at the city manager's website.
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