Los Angeles plans to get rid of all plastic bags in the city to promote sustainability in its grocery, convenience and retail stores.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a sweeping ban on the distribution of single-use, plastic shopping bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies within the city.
This decision came from a lawsuit from the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, a group of plastic bag makers and distributors. Los Angeles became the largest municipality to take action on banning single-use shopping bags. This action is expected to provide the momentum for a statewide ban, which might be considered by California state legislature this summer.
The policy was approved in a 13-to-1 vote on May 23. Los Angeles plans to take a three-step approach for curbing the environmental and fiscal waste associated with the distribution, collection and disposal of single-use bags. The plastic bags will be forbidden after a six-month transition period. After one year, there will be a 10-cent charge placed on paper bags to discourage their use.
“Cities and counties can now move forward with plans to protect our environment–and to safeguard the significant portion of our economy that depends on a healthy ocean and beaches,” said Director for Environment California Dan Jacobson to the Los Angeles Times.
About 47 other California municipalities have already adopted ordinances banning single-use, plastic bags, and most discourage the use of paper bags.