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<br /> <br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Work Session: Plastic Bag Ban <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: February 27, 2012 Agenda Item Number: B <br />Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Ethan Nelson <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: (541) 682-5224 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />This summary addresses the question of whether the City should promote the use of reusable bags by <br />prohibiting the use of single-use plastic bags by retail establishments. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The way communities address plastic bags ranges widely across the globe. Approaches range from <br />bans, to incentives, to fees and combinations of all three. There is a growing body of research work on <br />the subject and countless policy reports on the benefits and drawbacks of these approaches. For the <br />purpose of this work session, Councilor Zelenka outlined six questions for discussion as part of the <br />works session poll. These are: <br /> <br />1.What did the City of Portland enact? <br /> <br />2.What did the Legislature try to enact? <br /> <br />3.What are the environmental benefits? <br /> <br />4.How does this impact our council goal of reducing solid waste? <br /> <br />5.What are the economic costs and benefits for Eugene and Oregon? <br /> <br />6.What are the social equity implications? <br /> <br />Attached with the Agenda Item Summary is a staff report that provides responses to these questions. <br /> <br /> <br />RELATED CITY POLICIES <br />The City of Eugene regulates licensed garbage and recycling hauling activities within the city limits. <br />These activities are guided by Oregon Revised Statues as well as the Eugene City Code. In particular, <br />ORS 459a outlines the “Opportunity to Recycle” for all Oregonians and sets garbage diversion rates that <br />counties and their municipalities should strive for. The Lane County goal is to achieve 54 percent <br />diversion on an annual basis by 2009. This level was reached for the first time in 2010 (57.4 percent). <br />Outside of this statewide policy, waste reduction and diversion is included as an action item within <br />Eugene’s Climate and Energy Action Plan. <br /> <br /> <br />TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE – SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC IMPACTS <br />Should the council direct staff to develop a recommendation for program scoping, a full Triple Bottom <br />Line analysis will be included. <br /> S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120227\S120227B.doc <br /> <br />