Listing of Violations

Violation 4(a): Distribution of a Single Use Bag

Upon inspection of your business, it was determined that single-use carryout bags were being sold for the purposes of transporting food or merchandise from your retail store.

Per the Reusable Bag Ordinance 2012-2, "No Store shall provide single-use carryout bags to a customer at the check stand, cash register, point of sale or other location for the purposes of transporting food or merchandises out of the Store."

How to Correct
  • Cease and desist distribution of single-use carryout bags.
  • Purchase and start selling reusable or recycled paper bags which are compliant with Ordinance 2012-02.

Be sure your bags meet the current specifications for compliant paper bags and reusable bags.

Violation 4(b) – 3(n): Providing a Non-Compliant Recycled Paper Bag

Upon inspection, it was determined that the recycled paper bags distributed at point of sale are not compliant under Ordinance 2012-02 bag specifications.

How to Correct
  • Cease and desist distributing non-compliant recycled paper bags
  • Purchase and sell compliant recycled paper bags.

Please visit Specifications for compliant Recycled Paper Bags for additional details.  You may donate non-compliant bags to a non-profit retail shop such as Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Thrift Town and others.

Violation 4(b) – 3(o): Providing Non-Compliant Reusable Bags

Upon inspection, it was determined the reusable bags distributed at point of sale are not compliant under Ordinance 2012-02 bag specifications

How to Correct
  • Cease and desist distributing non-compliant reusable plastic bags and start selling reusable bags  that meet the specifications of Ordinance 2012-02.  
  • Start purchasing compliant reusable bags (or switch to compliant recycled paper bags). 

Although the bags your store is distributing may have the word "reusable" printed on the bag, it is not compliant reusable bag under Ordinance 2012-02 unless it meets all of the following criteria listed on the Specifications for Reusable Bags page.

A listing of reusable bags compliant with Ordinance 2012-2 can be found here: Compliant Reusable Bags.

Suggestion: You should request from the bag distributor or manufacturer you get your bags from test results and  certification that the reusable bags being sold to you meet the requirements of Ordinance 2012-02 .  Please refer to Testing Reusable Bags. 

Options for your non-compliant bags:

  • Return non-compliant bags to your distributor or manufacturer.  Let them know these bags are NOT compliant with Ordinance 2012-02 and ask them to stock only compliant reusable and recycled paper bags.  Refer them to the specifications and testing requirements for complaint bags on the Bag Specifications page.
  • Sell bags to stores not affected by Ordinance 2012-02.  Restaurants, cafes, retail clothing stores and non-food retailers currently are not affected by Ordinance 2012-02.
  • Donate bags to a non-profit retail shop such as Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Thrift Town and others.

Violation 4(b): Failed to Charge or Charging an Insufficient Fee for Paper Bags or Reusable Bags

Upon inspection, it was determined your business did not charge or did not charge a sufficient amount of ten cents ($0.10) per bag in  sales to  customers for either a compliant Recycled Paper Bag or compliant Reusable Bag.

How to Correct

Start to charge or charge the correct fee amount (minimum $0.10) for each paper bags or reusable bag.

  • You must charge a minimum of ten cents ($0.10) for each and EVERY size of recycled paper bag or compliant reusable bag made available at point of sale. Ensure that each bag, including double-bagged bags, are charged a minimum of ten cents ($0.10) a piece.

Violation 4(d): Failed to Itemize on Receipt Charge for Paper or Reusable Bags

Upon inspection, it was determined your business was not itemizing the required per bag charge (minimum ten cents ($0.10)) for each  recycled paper bag or  reusable bag. 
As per the Reusable Bag Ordinance 2012-02, "No store may make available for sale a recycled paper bag and/or reusable bag unless the amount of the sale for the bag is separately itemized on the sales receipt."

How to Correct
  • Start itemizing on receipt the charge for recycled paper or reusable bags sold to customers. You must itemize the ten cent ($0.10) per bag charge(s) for each bag sold to a customer on the customer's receipt(s).