Business Bag Ban Key Points
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- Reduce use of single-use bags. People in Santa Monica consume 26 million plastic bags every year by simply forgetting to shop with durable and long-lasting reusable bags. The bag ban prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags (flimsy, lightweight plastic bags)
- Encourage the use of reusable bags. The average consumer in this country uses 500 plastic bags each year.
- Purchase bags made with recycled content and that are reusable. In the United States, about 14 million trees are cut down to make paper bags annually.
- Understand impacts. Plastic bags are produced from non-renewable resources. Less plastic and paper bags means more conservation of our limited resources. Use fewer resources by complying with the ban.
- Cut costs. “Free” single-use bags are costly and the cost is passed onto consumers at checkout, and taxpayers pick up the bill for litter clean-up.
- Eliminate Waste. Most "free" plastic or paper bag are used for 12 minutes before being released as pollution into the environment or as waste into the landfill. Less than 5% of the 19 billion plastic bags used each year in California are recycled.
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Last updated: Thursday, 08/25/2011
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