San Diego Coastkeeper


Law & Policy Clinic Campaigns

Plastic Ain’t Our Bag

The Problem with Plastic Bags


SeaLion
   
Sea lion with plastic bag.
Plastic Bag monster representing the 550 bags an average California resident uses a year.
Photo courtesy of Bag Monster via Flickr

Single-use plastic grocery bags may be convenient, but that convenience comes at a cost to the community and environment. Every year, an estimated 19 billion plastic carry-out bags are used in California; that’s approximately 600 disposable plastic bags per person! These bags pose many problems to our community and marine environment:

  • Less than 5% of these plastic bags are being recycled which means many are finding their way into our environment where they litter our public spaces and eventually make their way to the ocean through the city storm drain system. So, although recycling is important, it is not a viable solution to this particular pollution problem.
  • With plastic consumption increasing on land, the amount of plastic in the ocean is increasing at an alarming rate.
  • Currently, there is an area in the North Pacific Ocean where plastics outweigh plankton by a 46 to one ratio.
  • Up to 80% of marine debris is in the form of plastic and single-use plastic bags are a major contributor to this growing problem. Plastics are so durable that it can take hundreds of years to break down.
  • In San Diego County alone, 12,291 plastic bags were removed during countywide cleanups in 2007 and 2008.
  • California taxpayers spend $25 million to collect and landfill plastic bag waste each year.

The City of San Diego Bag Ordinance


Plastic bags litter Chollas Creek
Plastic bags litter Chollas Creek
Photo courtesy of San Diego Coastkeeper

In December, the City of San Diego Natural Resources and Culture Committee voted 2-1 to move the Plastic and Paper Bag Reduction Ordinance to full City Council. This Ordinance is designed to encourage consumers to utilize reusable shopping bags rather than disposable plastic and paper bags. The ordinance DOES NOT AFFECT SMALL BUSINESSES; rather it affects large-chain grocery stores that generate gross annual sales of two million dollars or more and pharmacies with more than five locations under the same ownership within the City of San Diego.

Various cities in California (Fairfax, San Francisco and Malibu) and many countries throughout the world (China, Uganda, Rwanda, Bangladesh to name a few) have enacted similar policies with more than 20 cities in the state following. Enacting this ordinance in the City of San Diego will reduce unsightly plastic bag litter and have a positive affect on the community.


How You Can Help

  1. Sign the Plastic Bag Reduction Petition and collect signatures from others. These petitions will be presented to the City Council to show San Diegans care about this important issue. (Send signed petitions back to Coastkeeper).
  2. Volunteer to spread the word and collect signatures of support at local grocery stores and farmers markets. Contact Monica for more information.
  3. Volunteer to deliver letters to small businesses to let them know this ordinance does not affect their businesses.
  4. Contact your San Diego Councilmember by writing a letter, sending an email or simply calling to voice your support.
  5. Attend the City Council hearing to support the Ordinance when the date gets set.
  6. Invest in reusable shopping bags!
  7. Volunteer for a San Diego Coastkeeper Beach Cleanup
  8. Contact San Diego Coastkeeper to find out ways you can actively participate in moving the plastic bag ban forward. Contact Danielle Miller (619) 758-7743 ext. 101.
  9. Sign up for Coastkeeper Action Alerts to stay up to date on this issue.
  10. Get your friends, families and co-workers involved.
Plastic bags litter Chollas Creek Reusable Bag
Plastic bag caught on coral. San Diego Coastkeeper reusable bag.
Photo courtesy of Bag Monster via Flickr Photo courtesy of San Diego Coastkeeper