Feb 4 -Napa County 100% covered by bag bans

In the first few months of the new year, unincorporated areas and Yountville joined the rest of Napa County in banning single-use plastic bags. In a recent Napa Valley Register article, Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht called plastic bags that become windborne “urban tumbleweeds.” He’s seen them piled up against fences while driving. “They make you feel like you’re in a place that’s been neglected,” he said. “I appreciate getting them off the road.”

Yountville Mayor John Dunbar stated, “We expected the state to have a regulation that would be all-encompassing,” Dunbar said. “That has taken so long, we no longer want to wait.” He is referring to the statewide plastic bag ban that was passed in 2014 and was to take effect in 2015. Out-of-state plastic bag manufacturers paid millions to get a referendum put on the November ballot for voters to decide it's fate. CAW commends local jurisdictions for their leadership on the issue in the meantime. Every city or county that passes a ban keeps plastic bags out of the environment, prevents harm to wildlife, and saves taxpayers money in clean-up efforts. Napa County joins Alameda, San Francisco, Sonoma, Marin, and San Luis Obispo Counties in 100% coverage.

Learn more about plastic bag pollution and see a list of local ordinances here.

Learn more about the referendum and sign up for e-mail alerts here.

Endorse the campaign to protect California's ban on single-use plastic bags here.

Nick Lapis