South Lake Tahoe Bag Ban Ordinance in Front of City Council Again

Food vendors/grocery stores in South Lake Tahoe have complied with a single use bag ban ordinance since January 15, 2014.

Many panicked business owners and residents expressed their reluctance at the time, afraid of unknown costs that might be involved as well as not having the convenience of plastic bags at check out.

If one looks at the attendance at the City's workshops for both residents and business owners on the subject, they'd assume everything is working out due to lack of participation.

It is now time for the second phase of the bag ordinance to be rolled out. All single use bags will be banned starting October 15, 2014 which means retailers will no longer be able to use them.

When the City Council passed the ordinance in October of 2103, they made it a point to make sure a meeting prior to the second phase being rolled out would be scheduled. That meeting is this Tuesday, June 17.

The City Council has three choices on Tuesday: keep the ordinance as written, delay implementation of the next phase, or eliminate the next phase.

Residents in the city are now used to the ordinance and carry in their reusable bags when shopping. When shopping at retailers many are even seen as refusing the single use bag and carrying out their purchase. Some stores, such as Pier 1, currently use a plastic bag that qualifies as a reusable bag so retailers can either go that route, provide paper bags for free or for a fee. They'll have four months to decide on their plans if the City Council moves forward on the ban.

Any residents that cannot attend the meeting but would like their opinion to be read to Council may write to the City Clerk at salessi@cityofslt.us.