Paper Or Paper? L.A. Bans Plastic Bags

Los Angeles Uses More Than 2 Billion Bags A Year; Ban Aims To Reduce Litter

(AP)  Los Angeles shoppers soon won't hear the question, "Paper or plastic?" at the checkout line.

The City Council voted Tuesday to ban plastic shopping bags from stores, beginning July 1, 2010. Shoppers can either bring their own bags or pay 25 cents for a paper or biodegradable bag.

The council's unanimous vote also puts pressure on the state, which is considering an Assembly bill that would impose bag recycling requirements on stores. City officials said their ban would not be implemented if the state passes the bill and requires at least a 25-cent charge per bag.

"We've gotten to a point where we need to act as a city, where we can have real results," said Councilman Ed Reyes, who proposed the bag ban. "We're trying to do it in a way where we can educate and inform the public of what we're doing."

Reyes said the ban will minimize cleanup costs for the city and reduce trash that collects in storm drains and the Los Angeles River. The city estimates more than 2 billion plastic bags are used each year in Los Angeles. About 5 percent of plastic bags and 21 percent of paper bags are recycled in California.

Banning plastic bags will not solve the litter problem, said an attorney who opposes the regulation of plastic bags.

"We've had enough of politicians accepting the misinformation that's spread around the Internet about plastic bags," said Stephen Joseph of the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition, which represents bag manufacturers.

Joseph said the city motion gives "a free pass" to paper bags, which he argued are biodegradable but consume more materials and natural resources to make.

Three percent of the bag fee will be returned to the retailer, 3 percent will go to the state, and the rest will go back to the city to fund an education campaign.

Last year, San Francisco passed the nation's first bag ban, which took effect in November.

[eggy1620]

Also jgg000, all those decaying paper bags will just keep pumping CO2 into the air.

[jgg000]

they started using plastic bags to save the trees. If I was a tree, I''d be pissed-off

[jgg000]

"Far out in the pacific ocean between California and Hawaii, there are huge islands of garbage swirling together into ever-growing "cyclones" of debris. One island of trash is twice the size of the state of Texas."

An excerpt from that article...

Posted by azure11

I gotta see a picture of that. and there''s 10 starbucks on it.

[loneeagle57]

you put them in the car and 19 items roll out --------------------------------------- Posted by Bill517
IF YOU DIDN''T DRIVE LIKE A MANIAC, YOU WOULDN''T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

Most places don''t have the baggers any more. Either the cashiers do it and they are too busy trying to keep you the customer happy, ring out your purchaces and watch the shoplifters behind you.
or you have to bag your own. DEAL WITH IT

[loneeagle57]

Bob, you in office? If not then you should be seeing how you see the world in politicians eyes.

[deacon20081]

Paper or Biodegradable............Paper Is
Bio-Degradable leave it to LA to charge a fee for nothing

[bobnjersey]

[I don''''t see many of these bags littering streets. however I do see other garbage, including Aluminum Cans, food wrappers, Rubber tires, Styrofoam containers and the like. I suppose Bob, that you would also ban these products as well.]
[Posted by loneeagle57 at 02:56 PM : Jul 23, 2008]

if they became a scourge like the plastic bag has ... then there should be incentive in place to reduce their use, promote their re-use ... or for those that really don''t care and are only concerned for themselves ... they can pay for that attitude. aluminum cans and tires already have disposal surcharges on them ... maybe they need to be higher.

[Taxing people to use these products are not the answer, People are having trouble paying for their groceries now with out being forced to pay for ways to carry these purchases out of the store.]

they''re not being ''forced'' to do anything. the tax (fee for use of the bag) is meant to promote an alternate behavior. they have options ... ones that are more appropriate than ''whats good for me'' ... and ones that are not hard to adopt.

[I may not have a real solution however There are BETTER WAYS. That much I am sure. ]

no solutions to offer ... but you''re sure there are better ways? are you leaving that for others to come up with? who might those ''others'' be?

la''s approach is an appropriate response to a huge problem ... a problem that should be dealt with by leadership at the national level ... of which there is little to speak of of late.

[bill517]

I think the plastics should be outlawed just because of the silliness of trying to use them: if you buy 20 items, it takes 18 bags. Then, you put them in the car and 19 items roll out. They''re abominable. Good riddance.

[slim1h2o]

I vote for edible shopping bag. Take the bag home, soak ''''em in water, add to soup- a satisfying dish that is rich with fiber and some protein.

Posted by gangesdak at 03:04 PM : Jul 23, 2008

They already have that. It''s called Ramons Soup,,No?

[edjohn66]

We all realize, of course, that it is possible to REUSE the plastic bags you get from the store....

I haven''t used a new plastic bag in a month. I keep a supply in my trunk for when I go shopping, and then just reuse them until they wear out. THEN I recycle them and grab a new one to replace it.

[loneeagle57]

vote for edible shopping bag. Take the bag home, soak ''''em in water, add to soup- a satisfying dish that is rich with fiber and some protein.
_____________________
or just make them out of fruit roll ups

[hologram5]

So they charge for biodegradable bags? Boy, that is some incentive for people to reuse bags. Here in Seattle they are banning the bags as well as styrofoam. Good idea, should have been done before it got out of hand. Always too little too late. When I get those types of bags, I keep them and reuse them for other things. They work great for holding used cat litter and the likes.

[observer2020]

Hey, how about what Sam''s Club and BJ''s Wholesale places do...don''t even offer any bags at all...just toss all the stuff in your car and then lug it into your house. That saves on plastic AND paper.

[gangesdak]

I vote for edible shopping bag. Take the bag home, soak ''em in water, add to soup- a satisfying dish that is rich with fiber and some protein.

[sociald63]

when they reported paper or plastic, i thought they meant cash or credit card...duh

[loneeagle57]

in response to bobnjersey.
Due to the process of recycling plastic bags are weaker now then once were even 5 years ago. Because of this fault one can''t hold much in them. However, Plastic bags were used to help cut down on paper waste which in turn was saving trees. Many reuse these plastic bags to hold garbage, clothes toys, ect for short periods of time.
I don''t see many of these bags littering streets. however I do see other garbage, including Aluminum Cans, food wrappers, Rubber tires, Styrofoam containers and the like. I suppose Bob, that you would also ban these products as well.
Taxing people to use these products are not the answer, People are having trouble paying for their groceries now with out being forced to pay for ways to carry these purchases out of the store.
I may not have a real solution however There are BETTER WAYS. That much I am sure.
California is terrible with their laws. HOW many products that you have on your house say not to be sold in Ca.? This is ridiculous

[bobnjersey]

[Just another ******* idea from the laughing stock of the country! What''''s next for you california?]
[Posted by loneeagle57 at 01:24 PM : Jul 23, 2008]

the ******* idea was to produce 380 billion plastic bags a year in the us and throw them all in the garbage five minutes after you ''dont'' fill them up w/ only three items per bag ... all with not a single thought of the selfishness and adverse impact those actions have.

la is forwarding a progressive idea to deal w/ the issue ... since nobody else is willing ... an idea to mitigate the scourge of the plastic bag.

what''s your plan ... the market will take care of it?

[minnick8-2009]

Paper bags are a wonderful breeding ground for cockroaches. LA already has a cockroach problem. Reusable cloth shopping bags sound like the best idea yet. An enterprising home seamstress could make decorator shopping bags and sell them on Ebay.

[slim1h2o]

LOL,like I said penny pinchers,,,anyway to save a buck, ya know! Esp. Now-a-days!

[newtagagain]

this is great, use use more oil to produce plastic than we do to make gasoline. all plastic products should be banned in this country.

Posted by fstop100

Before you make such comments, stay sitting down in front of your computer and figure out how much plastic you used to get the comment on line.