With SB270 (CA bag ban) on hold, the City of San Diego is moving forward in the process to pass a plastic bag ban of their own. We confirmed this with the Mayor's office in late February, in wake of the announcement that there will be a referendum to repeal California's state plastic bag ban on the November 2016 ballot. San Diego is poised to join another 138 communities in California, including Solana Beach and Encinitas, that have already enacted a plastic bag ban to address the plastic pollution that is plaguing our oceans and beaches.
On Wednesday, May 13th, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act, San Diego released a Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 3, from 6-7:30pm in the City of San Diego RHC Auditorium located at 9601 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, CA 92123. This is a public meeting and all attendees can provide verbal and written comments. There is also the option to send written/mail-in comments or via email at dsdeas@sandiego.gov. The EIR was expected because it's the best safeguard for the city to avoid litigation from the plastic bag industry.
We will continue to work with the Mayor's office, City Council President Sherri Lightner, and the rest of the City Council to ensure this ordinance gets to Council for a vote as soon as possible. We are hopeful and expecting that the vote will occur in August or September of this year. In the meantime, please call your City Council Representative to let them know that you want to see this ordinance passed!
Please contact us at rap@surfridersd.org for any questions.
