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San Francisco commission backs higher checkout bag charge and ban on pre‑checkout plastic bags
Summary
The Commission on the Environment approved Resolution File No. 2019‑02‑COE to raise the checkout bag charge from 10¢ to 25¢ and prohibit single‑use plastic pre‑checkout bags, allowing paper or BPI‑certified compostable alternatives. Staff cited behavioral research and equity considerations; vote tally not specified in the transcript.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment voted to approve a department‑sponsored resolution (File No. 2019‑02‑COE) that would raise the city’s checkout bag charge from $0.10 to $0.25 and prohibit single‑use plastic pre‑checkout bags, including produce and meat bags, while permitting paper or BPI‑certified compostable alternatives.
Juan Carlos, a representative from Supervisor Brown’s legislative office, framed the proposal as a continuation of San Francisco’s longstanding effort to reduce disposable plastics and urged the commission to view the measure as “culture change,” saying the policy is designed to “encourage more San Franciscans to bring their own bags.” Alexa Kielty, the department’s 0 Waste specialist, told commissioners that California’s preemption language limited the city’s ability to redefine reusable plastic bags and that raising the price was the clearest route to reduce the thicker plastic bags now circulating in the market: “So really the only way we could do that is through increasing the charge from the 10¢ to the 25¢.”
Kielty cited peer evidence, saying officials in Santa Cruz saw large reductions after a similar increase: “we see a 90% reduction in disposable bag use” cited from peer jurisdictions. Commissioners also emphasized equity concerns: one commissioner asked that the department continue outreach to ensure low‑income residents are not disproportionately affected and to track distribution of reusable bags in underserved neighborhoods.
The commission moved to approve the resolution by voice vote; the motion passed. The transcript records the motion as made by “Commissioner on” and seconded by “Commissioner Wald” and does not list a roll‑call tally in the meeting record.
What happens next: the resolution, as recorded in the commission’s files, will proceed according to the department’s timeline for implementation and outreach. Department staff said they will accompany any ordinance with business outreach, placard updates at point of sale and public education to notify consumers of the price change.
Provenance: Discussion and motion appear in the meeting record beginning with Item 7 (Resolution File No. 2019‑02‑COE) to the vote recorded in the meeting transcript.
