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Key Ordinance Benefits: It is expected that the single use bag reduction ordinance will have multiple benefits as follows. • Reduces the amount of single use bags disposed at landfills • Reduces the amount of single use bags in Alameda County waterways • Reduces single use bag litter at landfills and elsewhere • Reduces plastic bag problems at County recycling processing centers Possible Ordinance Costs: • Residents will need to bring their own reusable bags or pay for reusable bags • Businesses will need to sell reusable bags Timeline for Ordinance Implementation (for those Member Agencies who do not opt out): March-December 31, 2012: Notification to stores about ordinance requirements January 1, 2013: Warnings and enforcement actions begin as needed Timeline for Member Agency Participation: Any of the 14 City member agencies, or the County, by a resolution of its governing body prior to March 2nd 2012 may choose to exclude its service area from this ordinance. The County's service area for the purpose of this ordinance is the unincorporated County. We have used these 15 service areas, rather than the 17 solid waste service areas of our 17 member agencies, in order to make implementing this ordinance in coordination with the County-wide stormwater program easier. Any of the Cities or the County can opt back into the ordinance after opting out, at any time, with approval of the Executive Director or WMA Board. DISCUSSION We have not heard any concerns about the ordinance subsequent to the first reading on December 14th. Given the outreach and media coverage to date, we believe the ordinance is generally acceptable to the residents and businesses of Alameda County. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Authority Board waive reading of the full ordinance(Attachment A) and adopt the ordinance at its January 25th meeting. Attachment A: Ordinance 2012-2 2 70