Retail establishments that provide plastic carry-out bags for their customers shall:
(1) Provide a bin(s) for the collection of single use plastic bags and other film plastic in a visible location that is easily accessible to the consumer, and clearly marked as available for the purpose of collecting plastic carryout bags and other film plastic for recycling. These bins will be intended solely for the use by the public for voluntary donation of these materials for subsequent recycling. These bins shall meet the Arizona Bag Central Station standard for collection bins for signage and be located near or at the entrance(s) of the retail establishment and be well maintained.
(2) Recycle returned plastic bags.
(3) Provide reusable carryout bags for purchase at retail locations.
(4) Incorporate a "reduce, reuse, and recycle" message on all carry-out plastic bags distributed as part of the retail business.
(5) Display informational material on the establishment's plastic bag recycling program to educate customers. This information shall incorporate messages on the environmental benefits of recycling plastic bags or using reusable bags including greenhouse gas reduction, energy savings and litter reduction.
(6) Retail establishments shall report to the City of Tucson ES director through an independent auditor the single use plastic bags per transaction, total number of single use plastic bags given out and tons of film plastic collected through the single use plastic bag and film collection program in accordance with the following schedule:
Report | Report Period | Report Date |
Report 1 | 4/1/13 - 6/30/13 | 7/31/13 |
Report 2 | 7/1/13 - 9/30/13 | 10/31/13 |
Report 3 | 10/1/13 - 12/31/13 | 1/31/14 |
Report 4 | 1/1/14 - 3/31/14 | 4/30/14 |
Report 5 | 4/1/14 - 6/30/14 | 7/31/14 |
Report 6 | 7/1/14 - 9/30/14 | 10/31/14 |
Report 71 | 10/1/14 - 12/31/14 | 1/31/15 |
Report 8 | 1/1/15 - 3/31/15 | 4/30/15 |
The information reported to the city shall be a cumulative number for all retail establishments and not segregated by each store or chain.
ES staff will calculate the number of single use plastic bags recycled by applying the single use plastic bag recycling formula.
The initial report shall include a list of all retail establishments reporting during the initial reporting period. Subsequent reports shall include an updated list and shall include the names of any retail establishments that are new, out of business or failed to report.
(7) Retail establishments shall provide training for all checkout and bagging clerks upon hire. The training shall include information and instructions to reduce plastic bag consumption. Training shall be reinforced on an ongoing basis.
(8) Retail establishments shall implement a public educational awareness program for Retail establishment employees and the general public. This program shall provide education to school age children and the general public on reducing plastic bag consumption and increasing plastic bag recycling. The program will include the use of contests, in-store promotions, videos and social media.
(9) District managers representing all retail establishments shall meet with the ES director or designee on quarterly basis. The meeting agenda shall include a review of the progress made by retail establishments to reduce the consumption of plastic bags by consumers and increase the in-store recycling of single use plastic bags.
(Ord. No. 10642, § 2, 3-24-09, eff. 9-24-09; Ord. No. 11056, § 2, 3-19-13, eff. 7-1-13; Ord. No. 11178, § 5, 6-3-14, eff. 7-4-14; Ord. No. 11272, § 7, 6-9-15, eff. 7-1-15)