Redwood City Businesses Start Charging For Plastic Bags

Some businesses in Redwood City are jumping the gun on a plastic bag ban that is sweeping San Mateo County. 

“Our store is charging for them,” said a CVS/pharmacy cashier at the Sequoia Station store, who declined to be identified for this article, on Monday afternoon.  “We’ve been instructed by corporate to proceed with the county’s plastic bag ban,” the cashier said.

Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Bruno and South San Francisco implemented a new plastic bag ban on Earth Day, April 22. 

Redwood City’s City Council adopted the county’s ban on single-use plastic bags on March 25, 2013. 

“But, it doesn’t start until October 1st,” said Malcolm Smith, Public Communications Manager for the City of Redwood City. The county’s bag ordinance is in effect only for businesses in unincorporated areas of Redwood City he said.  

“When City Council adopted the ordinance, they decided they wanted to give the retailers a six-month opportunity to use up existing stock,” Smith said.  “Ours is not effective today, but businesses can implement it on their own if they want to,” he told Patch.

Nothing in the ordinance prohibits businesses for charging 10 cents per bag that customers use.  

One resident reported being charged at Chavez market, on 5th Ave. near El Camino Real.

Safeway in Sequoia Station was not charging for plastic bags on Monday.  Do you know of other Redwood City businesses that are? Tell us in the comments, so we can get a list going.