Maya Ellison
In 2015, the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, enacted a single-use plastic bag ban, encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags. The ordinance was intended to reduce plastic pollution and followed a report estimating that county residents used 24 million single-use plastic bags per year. While the ban has been controversial due to the convenience of plastic bags, it has received support from local businesses and residents committed to reducing plastic waste. Santa Fe County followed the city's lead and passed a similar ordinance in March 2024, prohibiting the use of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene products across retail and restaurant establishments in unincorporated areas. This ordinance took effect on September 23, 2024, with businesses given a six-month transition period to phase out plastic bags.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Santa Fe County, New Mexico |
| Type of ban | Single-use plastic bags |
| Effective date | September 23, 2024 |
| Businesses affected | Retail stores and restaurants in unincorporated areas |
| Alternatives encouraged | Reusable bags, paper, metal, and wood products |
| Fee for paper bags | 10-cent fee for each paper bag provided to customers |
| Penalty for non-compliance | Fines ranging from $50 to $300 and/or imprisonment for subsequent offenses |
| Aims | Reduce plastic pollution, promote sustainable alternatives, encourage reusable bags |
| Challenges | Inconvenience, adjustment to new habits, ripping and tearing of paper bags |
| Support | Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency, community members, local businesses |
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What You'll Learn
- Santa Fe's plastic bag ban encourages the use of reusable bags
- The ordinance also requires stores to charge a 10-cent fee for paper bags
- Businesses were given a six-month transition period to phase out plastic bags
- Plastic bags are hard to recycle in Santa Fe and often end up as litter
- The ban is part of an attempt to reduce plastic pollution in Northern New Mexico
Santa Fe's plastic bag ban encourages the use of reusable bags
Santa Fe has taken a significant step towards sustainability by implementing a plastic bag ban, encouraging residents to adopt reusable bags. The ordinance, which came into effect in September 2024, prohibits the use of single-use plastic bags and polystyrene products in retail stores and restaurants across unincorporated areas of the county. This move is expected to reduce plastic pollution, which has been a persistent issue in Northern New Mexico.
The ban applies to most plastic bags, with a few exceptions, such as bags used for newspaper deliveries or packaging restaurant takeout with high liquid content. Retailers are now required to use sustainable alternatives, such as paper, metal, or wood products, for their packaging. This transition is a challenge that many businesses are embracing, with some, like the owner of Maggie's Diner in Madrid, acknowledging the positive impact on the environment.
To facilitate this change, the county provided a six-month transition period for businesses to phase out their existing inventory of plastic bags and adopt more sustainable options. The ordinance also includes a 10-cent fee for paper bags provided to customers, with retailers retaining one cent for administrative costs and the remainder transmitted to the City of Santa Fe. This fee is intended to encourage the use of reusable bags, shifting the mindset of shoppers towards bringing their own bags.
The impact of this ordinance is already being felt, with business owners and residents adjusting to the new normal. While some view the ban as a slight inconvenience, most recognize its positive impact on the environment. Santa Fe's initiative is part of a global movement towards reducing plastic waste, with over 40 nations implementing restrictions on plastic bags. This movement recognizes that plastic bags contribute to flooding and hinder crop growth, fill landfills, and pollute the oceans.
Santa Fe's plastic bag ban is a bold step towards a more sustainable future, encouraging the use of reusable bags and empowering individuals to make environmentally conscious choices. The county's commitment to reducing plastic waste is expected to have a positive impact on the community and the planet.
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The ordinance also requires stores to charge a 10-cent fee for paper bags
The City of Santa Fe banned most single-use plastic shopping bags in 2015, encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags. The Reusable Bag Ordinance also requires retail stores to charge a 10-cent fee for every paper grocery bag provided to customers. The ordinance applies to paper bags with a manufacturer’s stated capacity of one-eighth barrel (a typical grocery store bag of 882 cubic inches) or larger. Retail establishments must indicate the number of paper grocery bags provided on the customer transaction receipt and the total environmental service fees charged. The ordinance allows retail establishments to retain one cent of the 10-cent fee for administrative costs incurred by the collection and reporting of the fee to the city. The remainder of the fee collected must be transmitted to the City of Santa Fe by the 25th of each month, although retailers may elect to remit the fee quarterly.
The ordinance includes exceptions to the fee, stating that it shall not be charged to any person with a voucher or electronic benefits card issued under the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF), or the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Retail establishments are encouraged to waive bag fees for these customers.
The ban on single-use plastic bags in Santa Fe is part of a larger movement to reduce plastic waste and improve the environment, both locally and globally. Plastic bags are difficult to recycle in Santa Fe, often ending up as litter caught in trees and chollas along the roads and causing unnecessary waste and expense. The ban aims to encourage the use of reusable bags and establish penalties for violations.
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Businesses were given a six-month transition period to phase out plastic bags
The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, banned the use of plastic bags in 2015, following a report that county residents used 24 million single-use plastic bags annually. The ordinance, which came into effect in September 2024, prohibited the use of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene products across retail and restaurant establishments. Under the ordinance, businesses were given a six-month transition period to phase out single-use plastic bags and styrofoam products.
The ban applies to businesses in unincorporated areas of Santa Fe County, which will have to swap most plastic bags for paper ones. Retail establishments are now required to adopt sustainable packaging materials, such as paper, metal, and wood products, for all point-of-sale and takeout packaging. The ordinance also encourages the use of reusable bags and establishes penalties for violations.
The public has had a mixed response to the ordinance, with some describing it as a speed bump in the retail road and others acknowledging that it will be a slight inconvenience. However, many people in Santa Fe have adjusted to the ban, with many bringing reusable shopping bags, and others choosing paper or stacking their purchases in the cart without bags.
The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency supported the bag ban initiative, noting that plastic bags are hard to recycle in the city and often end up as litter, caught in trees and along roads. The agency also noted that banning plastic bags is a step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly community. Leaders in Santa Fe believe that plastic bags contribute to flooding and impede the growth of healthy crops by preventing rain from soaking into the ground.
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Plastic bags are hard to recycle in Santa Fe and often end up as litter
In 2015, the city of Santa Fe banned single-use plastic bags in retail and restaurant establishments, encouraging shoppers to bring reusable bags. The county of Santa Fe followed suit in 2024, prohibiting the use of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene products across unincorporated areas. This move was driven by the desire to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability.
However, one challenge that Santa Fe faces is the difficulty of recycling plastic bags. The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency (SFSWMA) highlights that plastic bags cannot be recycled at the BuRRT facility as they jam the machinery, causing time and monetary losses. The low-grade resin used in film plastic also makes it challenging to remanufacture, resulting in a lack of buyers for the recycled material. While some large retailers may collect plastic bags for recycling, they often need to be shipped to other states or even countries, which is not a sustainable solution.
The difficulty in recycling plastic bags often results in them becoming litter. Plastic bags are frequently seen caught in juniper trees and chollas along the roads and even at the landfill, requiring hours of clean-up when blown by the wind. This not only creates an eyesore but also contributes to the larger issue of plastic pollution, which Santa Fe aims to address through its bag ban.
The ban on single-use plastic bags in Santa Fe has sparked a shift towards reusable bags, with many residents adjusting to using their bags for shopping. While some may consider it a minor inconvenience, others recognize the environmental benefits of reducing plastic waste. The ordinance also encourages the use of sustainable alternatives, such as paper, metal, and wood products, for packaging.
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The ban is part of an attempt to reduce plastic pollution in Northern New Mexico
In an attempt to reduce plastic pollution in Northern New Mexico, Santa Fe County adopted Ordinance 2024-06 on March 26, 2024, banning single-use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene products in retail and restaurant establishments within unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance encourages the use of reusable bags and imposes penalties for violations. This move is part of a broader effort to address the negative environmental impact of plastic bags, which are challenging to recycle and contribute to littering and pollution.
The ban in Santa Fe County follows a similar ordinance enacted in the city of Santa Fe in 2015, which prohibited single-use plastic bags in many stores. The city's decision was driven by the understanding that plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade, leading to overflowing landfills and polluted oceans. Additionally, plastic bags were recognised as a nuisance, often caught in trees and causing issues at landfills, resulting in wasted time and money.
The county's ordinance gives businesses a six-month transition period to phase out single-use plastic bags and styrofoam products. During this adjustment phase, businesses are expected to adopt sustainable packaging materials, such as paper, metal, and wood products, for point-of-sale and takeout packaging. The ordinance outlines specific exceptions to the ban, including bags used for newspaper deliveries or to package liquid-heavy takeout orders.
The push to reduce plastic pollution in Northern New Mexico is supported by local businesses and residents committed to environmental protection. While some view the ban as a speed bump in the retail road, most recognise the well-intentioned nature of the ordinance. The transition may pose challenges, but the community remains dedicated to embracing more sustainable practices, aligning with global efforts to minimise the detrimental effects of plastic waste.
The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency also endorses the bag ban initiative, acknowledging the difficulties in recycling plastic bags locally. The agency highlights the inefficiency of recycling plastic bags, as they often jam machinery and lack a sustainable market due to the low-grade resin used in their manufacturing. The agency's support underscores the unified front in Santa Fe County's journey toward reducing plastic pollution and fostering a more environmentally conscious community.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the City of Santa Fe banned single-use plastic bags in 2015. Santa Fe County followed suit in 2024, prohibiting the use of single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene products across retail and restaurant establishments within unincorporated areas.
The ban was implemented to reduce plastic waste and promote the use of reusable bags. Plastic bags are hard to recycle in Santa Fe, and they contribute to littering and environmental pollution. The goal is to encourage a shift towards more sustainable packaging materials, such as paper, metal, and wood products.
Businesses that do not comply with the ban may face fines and other penalties. The specific penalties outlined by the ordinance include a fine of up to $50 for the first offense, up to $150 for the second offense, and up to $300 and/or up to three days of imprisonment for the third and subsequent offenses.
