Single-Use Plastics Ban goes into effect in Lake Forest Park January 23, 2019

Bag Monster
Photo courtesy Ronald Bog Blog

On January 23, 2019, the city of Lake Forest Park will join its neighbors in banning plastic bags.

In 2009, the city of Edmonds, under the championship of councilmember Strom Peterson, was the first city in the state to ban plastic bags. Peterson, who is now in the state legislature, will introduce a bill in January to make the ban statewide.

Other cities banning plastic bags: Shoreline 2014; Seattle 2012; Kenmore's ban will also go into effect January 2019. The Everett City Council just approved a ban to go fully in effect September 2019. Mukilteo 2013. Kirkland 2016. Mountlake Terrace does not have a ban but they are being lobbied by an 8 year old Brownie (see article).

Over the past several years, the Lake Forest Park City Council has received requests from the community to implement a ban on plastic bags in the City. 

In May 2018, the Lake Forest Park City Council began discussing the possibility of a ban on single-use plastics. 

On September 13, 2018, following additional Council discussion, a public hearing, and feedback from the community, the City Council approved Ordinance 1181:

Restricting the Use and Sale of Single-Use Plastic Bags and Non-Compostable Food Service Containers, Straws, Lids, and Utensils in the City of Lake Forest Park

The ban goes into effect on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. To assist affected businesses (retail establishments within the city limits that provide single-use plastic bags and/or non-compostable food service containers, straws, lids, and utensils) comply with the new regulations, the City mailed information packets to businesses and a public outreach effort is currently underway.

Read a summary of the changes here. In addition to the summary, affected businesses are encouraged to read the full text of Ordinance 1181. Please review the definitions and descriptions of what is allowed and prohibited under the new legislation.

The City wants to work with business to mitigate the possibility of a hardship, and the City Council included an extension provision in the ordinance:

5.34.100 Extensions.

The Mayor, or his or her designee, may extend the deadline for a Retail Establishment to comply with the requirements of this chapter for a period of up to one year after the operative date of this chapter, upon sufficient showing by the applicant that the provisions of this chapter would cause undue hardship. This request must be submitted in writing to the City within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter.

Requests for extension need to be submitted to the City in writing by Friday, February 22, 2019.

City of Lake Forest Park
Attention: Single-Use Plastics Ban Extension Request
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

In addition to an extension provision, the ordinance also allows for the following exceptions:

• Non-compostable food service containers for foods prepared and packaged entirely outside of the City but sold within the City.
• Disposable flexible plastic drinking straws when needed by customers due to medical or physical conditions and for whom flexible compostable paper straws are unsuitable. Otherwise, straws must be compostable or designed to be reusable.

If you have questions about implementation, contact JoAnne Trudel, Deputy City Clerk, 206-368-5440 or email.

Lake Forest Park residents are invited to stop by City Hall for a reusable bag (limit 2 per LFP household), while supply lasts.

More Resources:

• City Website Single-Use Plastics Ban page
• Single-Use Plastics Ban flyer
• Cedar Grove Composting, Inc. / Accepted Commercial Items: https://cedar-grove.com/compostable/accepted-items
• GreenBlenz Composting / http://www.greenblenz.com/materials/