NEWS RELEASE

Oakland, CA–Beginning November 1, eating establishments in Alameda County can no longer offer customers single-use plastic bags. Eating establishments can offer recycled content paper bags for free, but must charge customers at least 10 cents for reusable bags (includes thicker plastic bags). The bag charge is not taxable, and the eating establishment keeps the 10 cents to offset the cost of implementing the new law.

The law applies to all businesses in Alameda County selling prepared food and beverages to the public, including restaurants, bars, cafés, food trucks, bakeries, cafeterias, and food delivery services.

Residents who find local eating establishments not following the law should contact Bags@StopWaste.org or 510-891-6549, and staff from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority will follow up to provide technical assistance and help them come into compliance with the law.

The Reusable Bag Law for Alameda County was adopted by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and is designed to reduce waste and litter, and keep plastic bags out of local waterways.

Grocery, drug and liquor stores in Alameda County have been covered by the law since January, 2013, which has significantly reduced the number of single-use plastic bags distributed at checkout. To build on this success, the law was expanded to include all retail stores and eating establishments in the county.

More information is available at www.ReusableBagsAC.org/restaurants.

###