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My wife and I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday and when we went up to the cashier the bagger asked us: “Would you like one or two paper bags?” He then said, “We now charge $.10 a bag.”

My wife and I both responded, “You do?” He said, “Yeah, it just started today.”

If you’re not aware, Trader Joes isn’t the only store doing this.

In fact, San Mateo County is joining many cities and counties in an effort to encourage the use of reusable bags.

 

What San Mateo County Cities Are Participating?

The following cities in San Mateo County are participating: Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Campbell, Colma, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Milpitas, Mountain View, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside.

 

Which San Mateo County Cities Are Not Participating In The Plastic Bag Ban Yet?

The following cities are not participating yet, but will join in on the follow dates:

• East Palo Alto (10/2/13)
• Redwood City (10/1/13)
• San Carlos (7/1/13)
• San Mateo (6/6/13)

The Ordinance That Started It All

“On November 6, 2012 San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a Reusable Bag Ordinance that effective April 22, 2013 most cities will ban all retail stores, except restaurants, from distributing plastic carry-out bags to their customers. The entire ordinance can be found here – Reusable Bag Ordinance.”

Resources For Retailers:

If you’re a business owner and want to learn more about the ban as well as pick up free resources, then click here to learn.

What Do You Think About This?

I know this won’t be a popular opinion, but AS A CONSUMER I don’t like the ban and I don’t like retailers charging for bags.

Why? I know what will eventually happen. The $.10 a bag will eventually be $.25 a bag, then $.35, etc. It will add rising additional costs to every shopping trip. I don’t think it’s practical for consumers to carry their own bags, although I know many do already.

(*Maybe it’s not the ban I don’t like. It’s having stores charge for paper bags to “force” people into using reusable bags that I don’t like!)

What do you think? Leave your comments below!

 

Photo by FlyingSinger

Related article

• San Francisco’s Plastic Bag Ban Is Going To Impact Other Businesses In October (baybusinesshelp.com)