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Assemblywoman Julia Brownley is taking another shot at reducing plastic waste currently endangering marine life and littering our coast. Back in 2008 she introduced AB 68 that would have charged a 25-cent fee for every single-use plastic bag used in grocery stores and other retail outlets. But because of the costs to collect those fees -- in hopes of distributing them to education programs -- the bill never made it out committee.This year Brownley is trying again with AB 1998, which would ban the use of all plastic bags at retail outlets. The ban will hopefully decrease the fiscal impact and have more of chance of getting through committee. Currently on suspense file, the committee’s decision to pass AB 1998 onto full State Assembly is expected to take place sometime next week.
Los Angeles City Council passed support on the old bill, AB 68, but has yet to take action on the new one. However, the Board of Public Works has officially supported AB 1998 and recommends (.pdf) the City Council and Mayor to do the same.
