California

California Lawmakers Pass First US Plastic Bag Ban

Lawmakers are sending Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would make California the first to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

SB270 cleared the Senate on a 22-15 vote Friday. It was approved by the Assembly a day earlier.

Senators who had previously opposed the bill, including incoming Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, a Los Angeles Democrat, this time supported the measure after protections were added for plastic bag manufacturers.

The bill by Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of Los Angeles would prohibit single-use plastic bags at grocery stores and large pharmacies in 2015 and at convenience stores in 2016.

It includes $2 million in loans to help manufacturers shift to producing reusable bags and lets grocers charge 10 cents each for paper and reusable bags.

Shoppers in Milpitas, which does not currently have a bag ban, had mixed reactions about the bill.

"I think everybody should carry paper bags, no plastic bags," Santa Clara resident Nidhi Sharma said. "That's what I want because it's good for the environment and all."

"I think this would be bad for businesses," said another shopper, who did not want his name revealed. "I think it would lead to more thefts."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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