LA County to Vote on Ban of Throwaway Plastic Bags
Los Angeles County supervisors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a ban on plastic carryout bags used by many stores.
The ban, if passed, would cover unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County — communities with no city council that are governed directly by the Board of Supervisors. The proposed ordinance would be coupled with a 10-cent surcharge on paper carryout bags, revenue that will be retained by the stores to finance the purchase of paper carryout bags and educate customers about the new law.
The ban is to the point: “No store shall provide to any customer a plastic carryout bag.” An exception would be made for plastic bags that are used to hold fruit, vegetables or raw meat in order to prevent contamination with other grocery items.
The county staff report calls the proposed ban an “environmentally responsible” practice that would “help to reduce blight, litter and other negative environmental impacts.”