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SWAC reccomends the Board pass a plastic bag ban
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee drafted a report outlining the use of plastic shopping bags, and made reccomendations on how to reduce their use. Primarily, they reccomend a plastic bag ban for most retail establishments. -
SWAC provides local reccomendations to Board
All local city councils, except for Rainier, suggested to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners draft an ordinance banning the use of single-use plastic bags. -
LeMay Inc. Annonces end to Collection
LeMay Inc., the areas waste and recyclling collection company (excluding Olympia) announces that they will stop collection of plastic film and plastic bags, citing 60 tons of plastic film and 15 tons of plastic bags that it cannot dispose of. NOTE: This date may not be exact, I could not find a reference to an exact date, but this was the date the Olympian article was published. -
SWAC requests an ordinance be drafted
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee requests businesses, non-profits, and citizens draft language for a plastic bag ban ordinance. -
Commissioners consider banning plastic bags
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Public Hearing on Plastic Bag Ban
Public comments are overwhelmingly in support; including testimony from LeMay Inc. and a member of the Solid Waste Committee. The two who spoke in opposition cited the need instead for better litter control, and opposition to the five-cent-per-paper-bag fee imposed on consumers. -
Thurston County Commissioners approve ban
Shoppers will now either have to use their own reusable bags to specified retail stores or pay 5 cents per paper bag. The decision was unanimous. -
Ban goes into effect
Upon first violation, a business will be warned. Further violations will result in a civil infraction, and an additional civil infraction can be issued every day the violation continues. There are no provisions outlining the scope of fines that would be issued in conjunction with the infractions.