We understand safety is a top concern for businesses seeking to protect their employees and customers. The Centers for Disease Control report that COVID-19 is not shown to be spread via shared surfaces. The use of disposable options have not been shown to be a safer option than reusables while the environmental impacts of disposable options are well documented.

Bags used for gift wrap are subject to the bag requirements and must be charged for.

The Alameda County Reusable Bag law requires a “reusable bag” to meet certain performance criteria, as verified by an independent laboratory, to be considered compliant.  Plastic bags labeled or sold as “compostable” or “bioplastic” or “biodegradable”  generally do not meet the specifications of a compliant reusable bag under the Alameda County law.&n

Reusable bags need to have the following information printed on the bag or on a permanent tag:

• Name of the manufacturer
• Country of manufacture
• A true statement that the bag does not contain lead, cadmium or other heavy metal in toxic amounts
• Percent of post-consumer recycled material used in the bag, if any

Please see Bag Specifications for more information.

Please refer to the Specifications and Sources for Reusable Bags for a listing of reusable bags in compliance with Ordinance 2016-02. The intent of this listing is to make it easier for stores to find reusable bags in compliance with the Reusable Bag Ordinance in Alameda County. The companies listed and the information presented is subject to change without notice.

The paper bags with handles your store offers for sale at checkout must meet the following requirements:

The Reusable Bag Ordinance requires affected stores to charge a customer a minimum of 10 cents per compliant bag. Stores are allowed to charge customers more than 10 cents per bag; that decision is made by the individual store operator.

Businesses should be ordering and distributing compliant bags. If you purchased or were supplied with non-compliant bags you cannot distribute them to customers, but you may find an alternate use for them in your business (such as lining waste baskets) or you may donate them to charitable reuse organizations such as food banks which are in need of bags for food distribution to community members without enough to eat. Contact information for food banks can be found here.