Environmental Sustainability Board Recommends Against Plastic Bag Ban, Reviews Climate Plan – July 16, 2026

The Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) of Los Alamos County met on July 16, 2026, in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Avenue. The board heard public comment on a proposed single-use plastic carryout bag ordinance, voted unanimously to recommend that County Council not adopt the draft ordinance, and received the quarterly Climate Action Plan implementation update. Roll call showed Vice-Chair Erik Loechell absent; six members were present, with Joseph Chandler participating online.

Call to Order, Agenda, and Minutes

• The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM according to the posted agenda.
• No public comment was offered for items not on the agenda.
• The agenda was approved unanimously.
• The June 18, 2026 ESB minutes were approved unanimously as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sustainability intern Angel Mang reported outreach results: 213 comments were received through email, Cognito forms, and Facebook. Of those, 66% opposed the proposed bag ban, 28% supported it, 4% offered general feedback, and 3% were neutral. Excluding Facebook comments, 49% opposed, 43% supported, 7% offered general feedback, and 1% were neutral.
• Opposition speakers included Valerie Shelley, Michael Eibling, Jason Sharpell (assistant store lead of Smith's Marketplace), Joyce Anderson (founder of Save the Bag Los Alamos), Elizabeth Jones, Lyle Schofield, and business owner Don Marie Maldonado. They argued that single-use bags are routinely reused, that a ban would lead people to buy plastic bags for trash and pet waste, that replacement paper and reusable bags can have larger lifecycle environmental impacts, that small businesses would face higher costs, and that education and personal choice should be preferred over regulation. Joyce Anderson noted that Albuquerque rescinded its bag ban and called the proposed penalties punitive. Jason Sharpell asked for clarity on how bag fees would be used and urged a broader approach to plastic waste.
• Support speakers included Jody Benson and Celeste Raffin. They cited plastic bag litter, wildlife risk, and microplastics. Celeste Raffin estimated the county uses roughly five million plastic bags per year and that bags cost retailers about $100,000 annually. Jody Benson displayed littered bags labeled reusable and biodegradable and urged the board to support the ban.
• Jane Young, speaking after the motion was made, described cultural norms in Switzerland and urged persuasion and cultural change rather than a ban.

Discussion Items

• Proposed Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance: Member Shannon Blair presented the working group's draft ordinance. She explained that County Council directed the ESB in April 2026 to return within 90 days with a proposal informed by other New Mexico programs and reflecting a preference for no mandatory fee. The draft ordinance would prohibit retail establishments from providing or selling single-use plastic carryout bags, encourage retail establishments to charge a fee for recycled-content paper carryout bags, include nine exemptions, and set escalating penalties up to $500 per violation, with possible jail time for fourth or subsequent violations.
• Board discussion: Members cited inconsistent lifecycle research, concerns about impacts on small businesses and non-resident shoppers, the relatively small share of litter attributed to plastic bags, and the view that larger sustainability priorities should take precedence. Member Sue Barnes said she could not find data showing bag bans harm small businesses, estimated plastic-bag recycling contamination might cost the county about $3,000 per year, and noted that many people affected by the ban would not be Los Alamos residents. Member Joseph Chandler said the community had clearly indicated it did not want the ban and that the board should honor that message.
• Quarterly Climate Action Plan Implementation Update: Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule reported that the Climate Action Plan targets a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, an 80% reduction by 2040, and 100% reduction by 2050, with a carbon-neutral electric supply by 2040. Of 13 Year 1–2 climate actions, one was completed, five were ongoing, four were in progress, and three were upcoming. Completed work included the county fleet conversion study and the community-wide EV charging plan. Five internal-combustion fleet vehicles were converted to electric vehicles in FY26, with two to four more planned. The Foxtail Flats solar project, with 170 megawatts of solar and 80 megawatts of battery storage, is under construction; Member Barnes stated it could provide 50% carbon-free energy during the day and reduce electricity-related emissions by about 80%.
• The June 2026 Residential Sustainability Report showed a 31% diversion rate, about 481 tons of greenhouse gas reductions in June and about 2,471 tons in 2026, and $36,405 in trash transport and tipping fees for 19 trucks sent to the Valencia Landfill.

Key Outcomes

• Member Jack Grow moved, and another member seconded, that the ESB recommend that County Council not adopt the draft ordinance and authorize the Chair to work with staff to prepare a memo summarizing the board's concerns.
• The motion passed unanimously, 6–0, with Vice-Chair Erik Loechell absent.
• The board will forward its recommendation to County Council; the staff report cited August 4, 2026 as the Council presentation date.
• Council Liaison Melanee Hand reported that a July 7, 2026 Council motion to direct the ESB to evaluate expanded recycling services for single-use plastics was voted down 4–3, partly because of the board's current workload.
• Board members Sue Barnes, Carly Blair, and Jack Grow have expiring terms; Carly and Jack may reapply. Sue Barnes and intern Angel Mang were recognized at their last meetings.

Reports and Upcoming Items

• Board of Public Utilities: the previous night's meeting was moved to the following week.
• Transportation Board: no July meeting.
• Parks and Recreation Board: no report.
• Council Liaison Melanee Hand reported on July 7 and July 14 Council meetings, including the community performance dashboard, the comprehensive plan timeline, and the 4–3 vote on plastics recycling referral.
• Upcoming agenda item: Josh Silva will provide a biosolids composting update at a future meeting.