Santa Cruz County suspends 25 cent bag charge requirement

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is temporarily suspending a 25 cent bag charge required for retailers.

Instead of single-use plastic bags, the county is allowing retailers to offer paper or reusable bags at no cost to customers who are unable or unwilling to bag their own groceries.

The county said many front-line workers have dealt with confrontational customers, but still fear for their safety.

CalOSHA's guidelines prevent workers from filling reusable bags. The guidelines also say reusable bags should not be placed on conveyor belts or areas outside of shopping carts and should not make contact with employees. Customers are asked to bag their own groceries, but if they should not if they cannot maintain physical distance in the checkout area. The items can be placed in a cart and bagged elsewhere.