Supes Mull Sacking Plastic Bags

They billow from treetops, create havoc on ocean floors, clog drains and make diving for a salty meal a dangerous prospect for seagulls.

Now the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is considering a ban on single-use plastic bags.

County residents can weigh in Tuesday on whether supervisors should curtail the use of the bags in convenience stores and markets in unincorporated areas of the county.

Environmentalists say the ubiquitous bags blight cities and choke  hundreds of thousands of birds, marine mammals and sea turtles each year. Worldwide, consumers go through roughly 1 million bags a minute. Plastic bags do biodegrade, but it takes about 1,000 years, researchers say.

Dhaka, San Francisco, Mexico City, Los Angeles and Oyster Bay, Australia were among the first cities to sack the bags. Santa Clara County passed a plastic bag ban earlier this year as have cities San Jose and Palo Alto.

Closer to home, San Carlos and Belmont are also contemplating a prohibition.

The municipal movement has been aided by a state Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to ban plastic bags without first being forced to complete an environmental impact report on the decision. 

Possibilities include imposing a fee on the use of plastic bags (Mexico City's Plan Verde enables authorities to sock violators with a $90,000 fine). Another option to curb their distribution is to ban them outright, according to a report from county manager David Boesch.

If the ban is eventually imposed, some industries may be exempt from the restriction on plastic bags. One such exception may be granted to food businesses or restaurants, because plastic bags help prevent cross-contamination. And some non-profit industries have been granted a special dispensation, according to the report.

Supervisors must resolve which county department would enforce the law and what kind of resources might be available to penalize infractions.

No action is intended to be taken at the special meeting. The board will also meet Tuesday morning for its regularly scheduled meeting. To see the agenda, click here.

Residents may speak their minds on the subject at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the board chambers at 400 County Center in Redwood City.