Cathedral City Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags
The City Council of Cathedral City voted unanimously last July to ban single-use plastic bags at retail locations in Cathedral City, effective February 22, 2016. The ban will be similar to those passed in other cities within the Coachella Valley including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, and Indio. The ban does not affect restaurants or nonprofit, charitable resellers to name a few.
On February 22, 2016, single-use plastic bags will be banned in:
• A full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000), or more, that sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items.
• A store of at least 10,000 square feet of retail space that sells any perishable or non-perishable goods including, but not limited to clothing, food, or personal items, and generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law.
On August 22, 2016, single-use plastic bags will be banned in:
• A drug store, pharmacy, supermarket, grocery store, convenience food store, foodmart, or other entity engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods that includes milk, bread, soda, and snack foods, including those stores with a Type 20 or 21 license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
• A store of less than 10,000 square feet of retail space that sells any perishable or non-perishable goods including, but not limited to, clothing, food, or personal items, and generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law.
Retailers are able to provide a paper bag to customers for a charge of ten cents in the event of a patron forgetting or needing additional bags for purchase.
Over the next six months, the City of Cathedral City plans to distribute reusable bags to residents at various city events and promotions to help residents transition prior to the ban. More information will be provided soon.
