INFORMATION FOR SHOPPERS

SACRAMENTO IS SAYING GOODBYE TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS.

Starting January 1, 2016, single use plastic bags will no longer be available in the City of Sacramento at:

• Grocery stores
• Large Pharmacies
• Convenience Stores
• Markets
• Stores that have a grocery or pharmacy as one of their departments (Target, Walmart, etc.)

Shoppers can

• Bring your own Sac – customers can bring any bag of their own to use to carry purchases and are not required to buy a bag if they don’t want or need one
• Buy a paper or reusable bag at check-out - stores subject to the ban must make recyclable paper or reusable bags available for purchase for a minimum of $.10 per bag

Stores NOT required to stop using single-use plastic bags:

• Retail stores that do not sell food and does not have a pharmacy
• Restaurants
• Farmer’s market

A full description of stores subject to the plastic bag ban is part of City Code Ordinance 5.154.

EXEMPTIONS

BAG EXEMPTIONS

Bags are exempt from the ban and from the $.10 fee if they are reusable bags or bags without handles provided to:

• Carry produce or meat within a store
• Carry prescription medication dispensed from a pharmacy
• Segregate food or merchandise that could damage or contaminate other food or merchandise

CUSTOMER EXEMPTIONS

Participants in WIC (Women, Infant & Children's) or CalFresh using a voucher or EBT card may not be charged for bags. Stores can choose which reusable or paper bags to offer these customers free of charge.