For Immediate Release
July 6, 2017
Contact: Jennifer Voccola Brown
Senior Environmental Programs Coordinator
Phone: 310-456-2489 ext. 275
Email: jbrown@malibucity.org [mailto:jbrown@malibucity.org ]
Malibu Ordinance Requires Retailers in the City to Charge 10 Cents Per Paper Bag to Encourage Customers to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
(Malibu, CA) - The Malibu City Council expanded on the City’s existing plastic bag ban, requiring retailers in the City to charge a 10 cent fee per recycled paper bag to encourage consumers to stop relying on single-use bags and switch to reusable bags in order to reduce waste and protect the environment.
“This summer, I ask everyone in Malibu to BYOB – bring your own bag,” said Mayor Skylar Peak. “The 10 cent fee for paper bags is a great way to motivate people to use re-usable shopping bags instead of single-use bags.”
Effective April 27, 2017, the Recycled Paper Bags Cost Pass-Through Ordinance requires stores to collect a minimum 10 cent fee from their customers when providing a recycled paper bag. The 10 cent charge on paper bags is not subject to California State sales tax. It will be retained by stores for use in complying with the ordinance, such as offsetting the costs of offering recyclable paper bags instead of plastic or for educational materials that encourage reusable grocery bags.
The ordinance applies to all retail establishments, grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, vendors or non-profit vendors in Malibu. It requires that retailers charge at least 10 cents per recycled paper bag they provide; that they not rebate or reimburse customers for that fee; and that they use the funds collected from the fee only for the purposes allowed by state law ( P.R.C. § 42283.7 [http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PRC&division=30.&title=&part=3.&chapter=5.3.&article=3.] ).
In 2008, the City was one of the first in California to adopt a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags. The City remains an environmental leader by maintaining the original ordinance, which is more protective of wildlife.
The City is committed to working with businesses to ensure a smooth transition to reusable products that are more eco-friendly. To help businesses comply, the City has developed a web page with more information about this ordinance at www.MalibuCity.org/BagBan [/BagBan] . For more information, call the Malibu Environmental Programs staff at (310) 456-2489.
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