No More Plastic; Watsonville Embraces Reusable Bags

Watsonville said "adios" single-use bags on Friday, and Patch was there to help residents adjust to the change.

Patch Editor Jennifer Squires handed out hundreds of canvas bags to shoppers at as people got off work and stopped by to pick up weekend groceries.

The ban on single-use bags was approved by the Watsonville City Council earlier this year. Although there's a similar ban in the unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County, Watsonville is the first city in the county to enact the bag ban law.

The city of Santa Cruz passed a bag ban ordinance in July, but it has been challenged by the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition. The advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the city in August, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

In Watsonville on Friday, city staff handed out free reusable bags at and , both on Freedom Boulevard. At on Main Street, the store was charging for bags but the fee bought shoppers a reusable bag, reader Steve B reported. Patch Facebook fan Hector Rodriguez shared "Nice detail from . Giving away reusable bags with your purchase."

Are you Patched in? Get the FREE Patch newsletter each morning. Register here. Like Patch on Facebook and follow Patch on Twitter.