L.A. Plastic Bag Ban Unravels

January 25, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Los Angeles County supervisors retreated from a threat to ban plastic bags and instead opted for a volunteer program that leaves it to supermarket and store owners to coax customers into packing their purchases in reusable containers, reports the LA Times.

A year ago, supervisors had ordered county lawyers to look into drafting a ban on non-recyclable bags altogether, following San Francisco’s lead. But the 90-day study that supervisors promised in April 2007 stretched into nine months, as grocers and retailers weighed in. By July, the California Grocers Assn., which represents 500 retailers in California and Nevada, had hired the lobbying firm of Rose & Kindel and, by December, had paid it more than $33,000, according to the Times.

With county executives prepared to seek only voluntary measure, a last-minute amendment was offered, lowering the bar for grocers and retailers even further. The final product approved by supervisors: A ban would be adopted only if the use of bags in unincorporated Los Angeles County did not decrease at least 30 percent by July 2010 and at least 65 percent by July 2013.

Earlier this month, The New York City Council passed a bill by the margin of 44-2 that requires large stores and retail chains to collect and recycle plastic bags.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

So I take it you don’t like single-use bags? Nobody seems to want us around anymore… It’s hard being a Bag Monster in the Age of Bag Bans! I can’t even get a job because of convenient reusable ChicoBags.

For a good laugh (at my expense), and the latest info on Bag Bans with an entertaining twist, go to my blog: http://www.BagMonster.com

Bag Monster | January 25th, 2008

A few comments.

I find it sad that it only cost 33,000USD to turn the program into something truly great into something that will no doubt be nothing more than what is being done now.

The irony is that I am sure there are 100,000USD spent to clean the bags up each year

When are the politicians going to do something that actually benefits the people long term? when it comes to the environment, there are few items outside of plastic bags that have been of focus for so long, yet the same steps that were applauded in SF were abandoned in LA.

Any alternative plans in place?

China @ Crossroads | January 25th, 2008

I wish Chicago would ban plastic bags. Larger grocery stores have bins for plastic bag recycling, but I prefer places that encourage you to bring your own bags. The problem isn’t that we have plastic bags. The real problem is people do not reuse plastic bags until they are no longer usable, then put them out with the recyclables.

Everyone has a bag that he/she can use more than once, a sturdy bag from another merchant can be reused and reused.

UrbanFrugal | January 30th, 2008

Ironically, plastic bags are the most re-used form of garbage there is. It’s also ironic that we’re cutting down more trees to save the environment.

For the average, bill-paying citizen, the ban on plastic bags means spending more time, money and energy carrying his/her groceries home. Meanwhile, oil consumption will not decrease. Huge SUVs keep rolling out while petroleum companies continue to whimsically raise the price of gas.

Banning the use of plastic bags is an environmental red-herring. Obviously throwing plastic bags on the ground is not good. That’s why there are fines for littering.

But, between pouring oil into the atmosphere with our cars and throwing plastic bags on the ground, the former seems worse. I wonder, what is the equivalent in plastic bags to an average car’s 25-gallon gas tank?

Besides, if there’s one thing oil is good for, it’s for making plastic. Plastic is cheap, sanitary and easy to recycle.

patrick | February 11th, 2008

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader