Santa Barbara Reusable Bag Ordinance

In March 2012 the Santa Barbara City Council took the first steps to pursue an ordinance to reduce disposable bags in favor of reusable bags. On May 22nd, 2012 they reaffirmed their commitment by voting 6-1 to have their staff draft the ordinance language. BEACON, a regional joint-powers authority, has coordinated an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that any municipality in Ventura or Santa Barbara County can use to approve a local Reusable Bag Ordinance. The model ordinance language includes a ban on plastic checkout bag and ten-cent fee on paper checkout bags at grocery stores and other retailers that sell groceries. Please sign and share the action alert then stay tuned for city council hearing info.

Visit the Campaign Website

Chapter:Santa Barbara
State: CA
Country: USA
Theme: Rise Above Plastics
Launch Date: April 20 2011
Completion Date: Ongoing

The City of Santa Barbara is considering an ordinance to ban plastic checkout bags and place a ten-cent fee on paper checkout bags at grocery stores and other retailers that sell groceries. This is a great opportunity to help reduce plastic bag pollution by reducing the number of plastic bags distributed and having more people switch to reusable bags. Click Here to sign our Action Alert.

Plastic bags are made from non-renewable resources such as natural gas and oil. Plastic bags do not biodegrade in our lifetimes and can impact wildlife when littered - in addition being an eyesore, costing taxpayer dollars to pick up, potentially clogging drains and possibly creating mosquito breeding grounds in warmer months. While plastic bags are recyclable, recent reports show a dismal 5% recycling rate from the 115 billion bags used nationwide.

For these reasons and more please send an email and/or call the Santa Barbara City Council and encourage them to 'Support The Carryout Bag Ordinance' along with your personal reasons:

Mayor Helene Schneider (805) 564-5323
HSchneider@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Mayor Pro Tempore Frank Hotchkiss (805) 564-5320
FHotchkiss@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Ordinance Committee Chair Grant House (805) 564-5319
GHouse@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Councilmember Dale Francisco (805) 564-5324
DFrancisco@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Councilmember Harwood “Bendy” White (805) 564-5321
HWhite@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Councilmember Cathy Murillo (805) 564-5322
CMurillo@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Councilmember Randy Rowse (805) 564-5325
RRowse@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Would you like to step up and do more to help? There are lots of volunteer opportunities including: Event Hosts, Social media coordinator, Petition Coordinator, Coalition support, Fact Finders, Photographers/Video.

If interested, email santabarbara@surfrider.org

Visit The Santa Barbara Chapter website and join their Facebook Group.