Reusable Bag Ordinance Suspension

The following paragraph is an update added on January 6th, 2021:

The Health Officer Order Appendix A of the Social Distancing Protocol was revised to remove language about not permitting individuals to bring reusable items from home into stores. The removal of the language means that County residents may bring their reusable bags and coffee cups into retail stores. Retail stores may adopt their own stricter policies prohibiting such items if they wish. For more information, the revised Appendix A Order can be found here.

By now you may have noticed grocery shopping isn’t the same as it used to be. Among the various changes, one effects how you carry your purchased items back home.

The Health Officer’s Order prohibits all bags brought in by customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that reusable bags brought in by customers are not allowed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In response, San Mateo County has adopted an Emergency Regulation that suspends the requirement for retailers to charge for reusable bags or recycled content paper bags at point of sale.

With the increase of plastic bag usage, please help keep our waterways clean by reusing or recycling the bags responsibly. Visit recyclestuff.org to learn where you can drop off unwanted plastic bags.

Here are the details you need to know:

Effective Date: The Regulation takes effect immediately and will remain in place until the Health Officer removes the suspension.

Bags Allowed: Reusable 2.25 mil durable plastic or 30% post-consumer recycled content paper bags provided by retailers.

Prohibited Bags: Reusable bags brought in by customers. Single-use plastic or paper bags that aren’t made with recycled content paper.

Bag Charges: Retailers may suspend the 25-cent charge or may continue to charge for compliant bags at their discretion.

Retailers Affected: The Regulation applies to all retailers in unincorporated and incorporated areas of San Mateo County. The towns/cities of Atherton, Woodside, and Hillsborough are exempt from this Regulation.

Resources For Retailers

Signs are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese to display on storefront windows to help educate customers about the new requirements.

Retailer Resources:

Questions? Concerns? Comments?

For questions or more information, please contact Environmental Health Services at (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org or learn more at smchealth.org/bagban.