Changes coming for bag use in Austin

"I don't usually remember them," said Fox. "But today I remembered to take them into the store."

 

"Right now its 50-50, but I have seen a big increase with the amount of  (reusable) bags I've seen coming through the doors," said Lebeuf. 

 

For some shoppers remembering to bring reusable bags is a habit they say will take some time.

 

"Every time I empty the car and put the groceries in the house I forget to put those stupid (reusable) bags back in the car," said Carla Sanchez, as she packed her plastic bags in her car. 

Each year, Austin businesses spend over $800,000 in bag pollution control. The city hopes this new ordinance will also cut down on those cleanup costs. 

 

This ordinance is not a ban on all bags. It simply regulates the types of bags that businesses will be allowed to offer at checkout.

 

Businesses can still offer the following choices: plastic bags that are .004 inch thick with handles; paper bags with handles; or reusable bags made out of fabric.

 

So get your reusable bags now. Many places give them for free. Others let you buy them, and most are inexpensive.

 

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This City of Austin answered KXAN’s questions about the single-use bag ban below:

General Rules of the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance

Reusable carry-out bags must meet the following criteria:

10.1.1 Plastic Bags: If made of plastic, be made of a minimum thickness of 4.0 mil;

10.1.2 Paper Bags: If made of paper, must contain a minimum of 40% recycled content beginning March 1, 2013, and contain a minimum 80% recycled content by March 1, 2014.

10.1.3 All reusable carry-out bags, whether plastic, paper, cloth or other fabric, must have consumer carrying handles. 

10.1.4 Handles are not required for reusable paper carry-out bags with a height of less than 14 inches and width of less than 8 inches.

Restaurant and pharmaceutical bags, however, are two of several exceptions to the ordinance. See below for more detail.

Q: What are the rules on bags for restaurants? I guess what I heard was that Whataburger was happy. But how does the ordinance apply to them and McDonalds and such? If I got thru a drive thru, what can I expect?

A: 10.7.3: Restaurant Bags, limited to recyclable paper bags used to take away prepared food.  Single use plastic carryout bags allowed only where necessary to prevent moisture damage; examples include soups, sauces salads with dressing, and liquids.

Summary: Restaurants/fast food establishments/etc. will still be providing bags for takeaway food, but they must be made of paper  unless they are bags for soups, sauces, salads or liquids. In these instances, plastic carryout bags will be allowed.

Q: If I go into Walgreens, what can I expect?

A: 10.7.2: Pharmaceutical Bags and Veterinarian Bags, limited topaper bags provided by pharmacists or veterinarians to contain prescription drugs or other medical necessities.

Summary: Pharmaceutical bags will still be available, but must be made out of paper.   

Other exemptions:

10.7.1: Laundry, Newspaper and Waste Bags,such as laundry dry cleaning bags, door-hangar bags, newspaper bags, or packages of multiple bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste, or yard waste.

10.7.4: Non-Checkout Bags,such as bags used by a customer inside a Business Establishment to:

• 10.7.4.1 Contain bulk items, such as produce, nuts, grains, candy, or small hardware items;
• 10.7.4.2 Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether or not prepackaged;
• 10.7.4.3 Contain or wrap flowers,