The City of Sacramento wants to change an ordinance that would ban plastic grocery bags starting next year because the new law does not make it clear that small bags are exempt.
Erin Treadwell with the city's Recycling and Solid Waste Division says the law that was approved in March of this year would ban plastic grocery bags, but does not say which small bags would be allowed.
Treadwell will ask the Sacramento City Council's Law and Legislation Committee for approval to change the ordinance.
"What this amendment does do is specifically define which small bags both plastic and paper that are exempt from the ban so it's easier for retailers and shoppers to understand when it goes into effect in January 1, 2016," says Treadwell.
Produce bags, small paper bags for glass bottles, and pharmaceutical bags would be exempt if the council committee approves the changes Tuesday and the full council approves them at a later date.
A California state law that bans plastic grocery bags was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2014. Opponents have gathered enough signatures to put that bag ban on the November 2016 ballot.
*Correction: This story has been changed to reflect that the City of Sacramento plastic bag ban goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016 regardless of what occurs with the state referendum.
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