Item B: Plastic Bag Ban - Laserfiche WebLink

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Because of uncertainty surrounding these variables, DEQ is not prepared at this time to make a definitive statement regarding other environmental impacts of different kinds of single-use bags.” How does this impact our Council goal of reducing solid waste? What is the council goal for reducing solid waste? The current policy landscape is outlined in the overview section. Here are the main take-aways. 1) Plastic bags represent a very small portion of total waste. 2) Banning only plastic leaves paper bags still in waste. 3) Better recycling of either bag is not the ultimate goal. Eliminating the manufacture and use of single-use disposable bags, with all the associated material and energy inputs, is the goal. What are the economic costs & benefits for Eugene and Oregon? To date there has not been a robust analysis of the economic impacts of plastic bag bans in Oregon or Eugene. The closest evaluation was conducted for Los Angeles County by AECOM Technical Services in November 2010. The report assumes that the economic impacts to the bag ban, while initially born by effected businesses, would eventually pass-through to the consumer. This comprehensive report included data from international studies and programs such as those in Europe, Australia, and China as well as the United States, and evaluated the economic impact to consumers of a plastic bag ban and a switch to paper and/or reusable bags. The study found that the per capita cost to switch from free plastic bags to paper bags with a fee and reusable bags was $3.56/per person per year. This took into account the total new cost (post ban) of $6.81 per capita minus the existing cost (pre ban) of $3.25 per capita. Additionally, the study assessed the cost for consumers to replace retail plastic bags as liners for trash at home, with a cost of $1.37 per person per year. They also included the additional sales tax, which would not be an issue with Eugene consumers. Therefore, using the LA County data as a proxy, we can estimate that the per capita cost to consumers from a bag ban would be $4.93 annually. What are the social equity implications? There has not been an analysis conducted in Oregon or Eugene for the social equity implications on plastic bag bans. What is evident is that many of the bag bans recently adopted on west coast cities include language that provides paper bag fee exemptions or free reusable bags to individuals accessing state funded services (TANF, WIC, Food Stamps, etc). The AECOM Report for LA County evaluated the socioeconomic impact for a proposed ordinance that would ban all plastic retail checkout bags and require at least 5cents is charged for recycled paper bags, but allow an exemption for residents participating in the California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children or in the Supplemental Food Program. They reported that the impact of the proposed ordinance on lower-income residents of the County was expected to be negligible. 6 | Page