Title
Discuss Council Direction for ESB to Propose a Single-Use Plastic Bag Ordinance
Body
During the April 7, 2026, Los Alamos County Council meeting, they requested the ESB to “Propose a Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban and return to Council in 90 days with a proposal based on other programs in New Mexico.” Without stating it in the motion they requested community engagement. The ESB will discuss how they would like to proceed and possibly create a working group to continue working on this item.
History
During the January 14, 2025, Los Alamos County Council meeting, they requested the ESB to “Evaluate single use plastic bags to include factors such as ability to recycle and other alternatives and cost to County to recycle and engagement to include local businesses and other interested parties.” The Environmental Sustainability Board adopted this initiative in their 2025 Work Plan and since then, the ESB formed a working group, consisting of Chair Shannon Blair and members Hermann Geppert-Kleinrath and Rebecca Paley-Williams. The working group has spent the past couple of months researching and interviewing other municipalities that have adopted a plastic bag ordinance. The working group will provide an update to the ESB and the board will make a recommendation to provide County Council.
In October 2026, Chair Blair presented the findings of the research to Council and asked for further direction.
Attachments
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