Hello 2013; goodbye plastic bags

Poster of the reusable bag ordinance for Alameda County which went into effect Jan. 1, 2013

January 1, 2013 5:00am

Pioneers will be returning to campus with a new green mandate. As of Jan. 1, food retailers in Alameda County – including the CSUEB bookstore and campus dining venues - can no longer provide single-use plastic carryout.

Recycled content paper bags and reusable bags may be provided, but stores must charge a minimum of $0.10 per bag. Pioneers are encouraged to bring their own bag for purchases.

Plastic bags are one of the most common litter items found in waterways, and plastic pollution is a growing threat to oceans and marine life. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down or decompose, causing a cumulative litter problem. Shopping with reusable bags helps reduce litter and waste, protects creeks and the bay, and conserves natural resources.

Read ORDINANCE 2012-2 AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE THE USE OF CARRYOUT BAGS AND PROMOTE THE USE OF REUSABLE BAGS