Agenda Cover Memorandum. D Approval [8:1 For discussion D Feedback requested D For your information

Transcription

1 rt\ ~ Agenda Cover Memorandum Meeting Date: July 9, 2012 Item Title: Action Requested: Use of Plastic Bags D Approval [8:1 For discussion D Feedback requested D For your information Staff Contact: Phone Number: Address: Juliana A. Maller, Acting City Manager 847/ jmaller@parkridge. us Background: A presentation was given at the April16, 2012 City Council meeting by Natalie Whalen asking the City Council to consider restricting the use of single use plastic bags to help the environment. The Mayor asked that the Procedures and Regulations Committee discuss the proposal. Attached is Ms. Whalen's request. Staff was also asked to contact the businesses in town that use single use plastic bags. The Chamber of Commerce sent out a note to their membership and the Deputy City Manager spoke with the managers at both Jewel and Dominick's grocery stores. Both Jewel and Dominick's indicated that it would cost them a lot more to replace the use of plastic bags with paper bags. Both Jewel and Dominick's have recycling programs and often receive plastic bags from other stores. Jewel provided information that they sell all of their used bags and cardboard to a third-party recycler. They both sell reusable bags as well. Staff was asked, at the April 23, 2012 COW meeting, to contact the Park Ridge Park District to learn if its Environmental Committee could address this issue. This committee has been disbanded. Staff also checked with area municipalities. Attached is an ordinance that the City of Highland Park has in place. Recommendation: Please discuss and provide direction to staff. We can include an article in the next Spokesman encouraging recycling and talk with the Farmers Market about encouraging reusable bags. Budget Implications: Does Action Require an Expenditure of Funds: If Yes, Total Cost: If Yes, is this a Budgeted Item: If Budgeted, Budget Code (Fund, Dept, Object) D Yes DYes [8:1 No 0No Attachments: Ordinance - City of Highland Park Ms. Whalen's request Rev 04/09/12

2 Draft 8/16/11 CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 96 OF "THE HIGHLAND PARK CODE OF 1968," AS AMENDED, REGARDING RECYCLING OF PLASTIC BAGS AND PLASTIC FILM PRODUCT WRAP WHEREAS, Chapter 96 of "The Highland Park Code of 1968," as amended (ucity Code'', establishes regulations for the storage, collection, and disposal of refuse in the City; and WHEREAS, large retail establishments in the City commonly provide plastic bags to their customers; and and WHEREAS, many products sold at retail in the City are wrapped in plastic film; WHEREAS, plastic bags that are disposed as general refuse often become litter in the City's streets, sewer systems, ravines, and beaches; and WHEREAS, the disposal of plastic bags and plastic film product wrap creates pollution and thereby poses a significant threat to the environmental health of the City and the public health, safety, and welfare of City residents and businesses; and WHEREAS, the City Council has found that the recycling of plastic bags and plastic film product wrap can substantially reduce the adverse effects of the disposal of plastic bags and plastic film product wrap; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the home rule powers of the City, the City Council has determined that it will serve and be in the best interest of the City and its residents to amend Chapter 96 of the City Code to require the implementation of a plastic bag and plastic film product wrap recycling program by large retail establishments in the City that provide plastic bags to consumers; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it will serve and be in the best interest of the City and its residents to amend the City Code pursuant to this Ordinance; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF HIGHLAND PARK, LAKE COUNTY, STATE OF ILLINOIS, as follows: SECTION ONE: RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are incorporated into, and made a part of, this Ordinance as the findings of the City Council. SECTION TWO: PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAG AND PLASTIC FILM PLASTIC WRAP RECYCLING. Chapter 96, entitled "Garbage, Refuse and Litter," of Title IX, entitled "General Regulations," of the City Code shall be, and is hereby, amended to add a new Section , which Section shall read as follows: 1

3 Draft 8/16111 "Section Plastic Carryout Bag and Plastic Film Plastic Wrap Recycling. (A) Definitions. Whenever the following words or phrases are used in this Section , they shall, for purposes of this Article, have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section (A), except when the context otherwise indicates. All words or phrases not defined in this Section (A) shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section of this Chapter. "Consumer" means any person who makes a purchase at retail for any purpose other than resale. 'Plastic Carryout Bag" means any polyethylene bag that is provided to a consumer by a retailer at checkout. "Plastic Film Product Wrap" means polyethylene wrap used to cover, wrap or otherwise package consumer goods, dry cleaning, and other dry goods. 'Purchase at Retail" means the acquisition of the ownership of or title to tangible personal property through a sale at retail. 'Plastic Recycling Program" means the plastic carryout bag and plastic film product wrap recycling program required pursuant to this Section ''Retailer" means a business whose principal use is specifically listed within the "General Retail Sales and Related Service Uses" and "Food Product Uses" tables listed within the Table of Allowable Uses set forth in Article 4 of Chapter 150 of the City Code. ''Reusable Bag" means: (i) a bag made of cloth or other machine washable fabric that has handles; or (ii) a durable plastic bag with handles that is at least 2.25 mils thick and is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple uses. (B) Plastic Carryout Bag and Plastic Film Product Wrap Recycling. Except as provided in Section (C) of this Chapter, all retailers that provide plastic carryout bags to consumers in connection with a purchase at retail, for the purpose of storage or transport of goods, shall: (1) Implement a collection program that facilitates the return and recycling of: (a) plastic carryout bags distributed to consumers; and (b) plastic film product wrap; (2) Provide on the retailer's premises one or more clearlymarked collection receptacles for the collection of plastic carryout bags and plastic film, which receptacles shall be: (a) placed at indoor locations at one or 2

4 Draft 8/16/11 more of the main public entrances to the premises; and (b) easily accessible and visible to consumers; (3) Install and maintain signage on the premises that: (a) identifies the collection receptacles; and (b) includes educational information regarding the Plastic Recycling Program; (4) Arrange for the pick-up, transport, and recycling of plastic carryout bags and plastic film plastic wrap deposited in the collection receptacles by consumers; (5) Make reusable bags available for purchase or use by consumers, as an alternative to plastic carryout bags; and (6) Maintain records detailing the collection, transport, and recycling of plastic carryout bags and plastic film product wrap by the retailer, which records must be kept for a minimum of three years and must be made available, upon request, to the City. (C) Exceptions. Section (B) shall not apply to a retailer that: (1) Owns or controls less than 10,001 square feet of retail space in the City; or (2) Has been granted an exemption from the requirements of Section (B) of this Chapter by the City Manager, which exemption may be granted in the sole and absolute discretion of the City Manager upon a showing by the retailer that either: (a) the retailer will provide a Plastic Recycling Program in coordination with another retailer in close proximity to the retailer, which coordinated Plastic Recycling Program will be operated from the other retailer's location; or (b) it is financially infeasible for the retailer to operate a Plastic Recycling Program. An exemption granted pursuant to this Section (C)(2) shall expire one year after the date on which it is granted by the City Manager, and may be renewed upon application by the retailer and approval by the City Manager. SECTION THREE: PUBLICATION. The City Clerk shall be, and is hereby, directed to publish this Ordinance in pamphlet form pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Illinois. SECTION FOUR: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in the manner provided by law; provided, however, that this Ordinance shall not be effective prior to January 1, AYES: NAYS: 3

5 Draft 8116/11 ABSENT: PASSED: APPROVED: PUBLISHED IN PAMPHLET FORM: ORDINANCE NO.: Nancy R. Rotering, Mayor ATTEST: Shirley Fitzgerald, City Clerk # v4 4

6 Retailers Greater than 10,000 Square Feet

7 The following points outline a request for a subcommittee of the Procedures and Regulations Committee to commence a conversation for Park Ridge retailers and citizens to reduce dependence on single-use plastic bags. There are many approaches to consider. All of the following suggestions are based on researched facts. a. Please consider editing and then signing a letter (which the subcommittee mentioned above will draft) as citizens and more importantly as leaders of Park Ridge asking the State legislature (through our local State Reps and the Governor's office) to give us up to date information on any possibility of any bans on single-use plastic shopping bags state-wide; b. Please request that Mayor Schmidt proclaim a week this summer "Park Ridge Ban the Bag Week"; During this week, please consider showing multiple FREE screenings of the documentary: "Bag It: Is Your Life Too Plastic?" c. Please consider asking the public information officer (or the appropriate person) to consider how City staff might move this initiative along with an article in the Spokesman and perhaps with other touchpoints with our citizens and with the stores; d. Please assist the sub-committee in contacting organizers of the Park Ridge Farmers Market to ask them to try to reduce their dependence on plastic bags or ask them to furnish signage to remind folks to bring their own. Perhaps the sub-committee can put a plan together with the Market organizers to reduce the number of bags offered over time; e. Please assist the sub-committee in contacting the chamber of commerce regarding this appeal and ask for their support on the supply end. Being Pro-Business we will show the chamber how this initiative has been pro-demand (thus pro-business) in other cities; f. Please assist the sub-committee in raising awareness about the reduction in single use plastic shopping bags by requiring increased signage and visibility in storefront windows that remind shoppers to bring their reusable shopping bags. g. Please support further research: 1) The sub-committee can report in to P&R with their research findings about other places (like Washington DC, LA, San Francisco, Mexico City, the Island of Kauai, Ireland) where the use of plastic bags is banned or officially discouraged. 2) The sub-committee can report to the P & R with their research findings about stores (like Target and Whole Foods) that offer incentives at checkout to people who do use reusable bags. 3) The sub-committee can report to the P & R with their research findings about areas that have taxed the use of plastic bags. 4) The subcommittee can research and report on how, into what machinery, and where the recycled bags from "take back'' locations get used beneficially.