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LA County tentatively approves ban on individual plastic bags at stores
The wind blows a plastic bag around the beach near the Manhattan Beach Pier August 21, 2008 in Manhattan Beach, California.
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LA County tentatively approves ban on individual plastic bags at stores
LA County tentatively approves ban on individual plastic bags at stores
The checkout question “paper or plastic?” is on its way out in areas of Los Angeles County. L.A. County supervisors have taken a step toward banning plastic shopping bags in retail stores.
The state of California rejected the idea, but the state’s most populous county is following San Francisco’s lead. More than three years ago, the city by the bay prohibited retailers from giving shoppers single-use plastic bags for their merchandise.
Environmentalists have argued that the convenient sacks use way too much petroleum, clutter scenic vistas and live forever in landfills. In L.A. County, stores will be able to charge customers 10 cents for each paper bag they dispense – or will encourage them to use canvas or other reusable shopping totes.
The ban would go into effect starting next July 1 and would apply to unincorporated areas of the county.
While supporters of the new rules cheered for the supervisors’ vote, opponents said the plastic bag ban will impose costs and inconvenience on the poorest people.
Restaurants that sell takeout food will still be able to pack it in plastic bags.
The ban won’t become formal until the L.A. County supervisors take a final vote on it at a future meeting.
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