One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ready With the Reusables? West Hollywood's Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect
Photo by daizuoxin via Shutterstock
Shoppers in West Hollywood, be sure to bring your reusable bags the next time you shop, because the city's Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban goes into effect Wednesday, February 20. For this first-phase implementation of the ordinance, retail stores and supermarkets of at least 10,000 square feet will no longer be providing plastic bags for customers.
The ban was approved last August, and was modeled on similar bans in Los Angeles County and area cities like Santa Monica, Malibu, Calabasas, and Long Beach.
The City of West Hollywood elaborates on the reasoning behind the ban:
The purpose of the ban on single-use plastic bags is to encourage sustainability by substituting plastic bags with durable and long-lasting reusable bags and paper bags made from recycled materials; as well as reduce costs to businesses, consumers, taxpayers and the environment. A ban on single-use plastic bags eliminates a major source of litter and marine debris and helps to create local green jobs. Through this initiative, residents have the opportunity to personally contribute toward reducing waste in the City.
Retailers will charge customers 10 cents per paper bag at checkout, and the stores will retain those funds to help them pay for their paper bag supply or other promotional materials related to implementing the ordinance.
The second phase of the ban, which affects retail establishments smaller than 10,000 square feet, goes into effect Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
