California cities of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell not inclined to ban single-use plastic bags after San Jose's recent ban; mayors say they want statewide action instead, cite time and money needed to enact such a ban

Graziela Medina Shepnick

LOS ANGELES , April 3, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – The California cities of Los Gatos, Saratoga and Campbell are not inclined to ban single-use plastic bags, which nearby San Jose had recently enacted, according to the mayors of those three Bay Area cities, the San Jose Mercury News reported April 2.

Some of the factors cited by the mayors of those three cities include a preference for a statewide action instead of enacting the ban city by city; the time and money needed to work on a ban; and the cost to residents.

Those mayors spoke on the issue on March 28 at a West Valley Mayors and Managers meeting.

The mayors advocated public education on the problems posed by single-use plastic bags, such as litter.

However, the municipalities will have to meet a requirement set by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board to cut the amount of waste that goes into waterways by 40% by 2014 and by 100% by 2022.

That requirement could prompt Los Gatos to face the bag ban issue if the state does not, said Mayor Steve Rice.

Cupertino is currently working on a plastic bag ban, which could give it a 12% credit toward that 40% standard, the Mercury News reported.

The primary source of this article is the San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, California, on April 2, 2012.

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